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Goodbye Japan

This is my final blog post, as today I am returning to Australia. I have had an incredibly amazing six weeks in Japan, and learnt so much about the identity and culture of this country as well as that of my own. Though I am not ready to return to the tedium of normal life, I am prepared for a new adventure, that which lies in Australia.

The kindness and welcoming attitude of my host family helped me to settle in to Japan so smoothly, and I really do view my place in 桜新町 as a second home. I think that I have achieved my goals for this exchange, to immerse myself in the language and culture of Japan. And I also think that it is only when you are amid a culture other than that of your own that you are truly able to evaluate that of your home. 

What did I learn in Japan? I learnt that the people are kind, crazy, intelligent. That if you make an effort they will support you in every way that they can and put aside their life to improve yours. I learnt that there’s this tiny island, and it’s got the most amazing people. And that even though this island is so far ahead, it still knows how to respect where it came from.



I learnt that friends you make here are friends for life, and also that those friends don’t care if you don’t speak perfectly. And that doing one small favour for someone can lead to an iron strong friendship.

I learnt that, just because I had lost my voice, I didn’t have to lose myself. Though I couldn’t always express myself, I always communicated. I didn’t stop being me. I didn’t want my host family to get to know a shadow of who I am, because I was too scared to try.

I also learnt that it is important to remember where you come from. Sure, I’m not here representing Australia, but for those people who have had little exposure to Australia, I am their link. Make of it what you will – what do you want the world to think of your country? And I think that I want people to know the truth. The good things, the bad things, but to also remember that I am just one person in a country of 23 million. I am not Australia, merely a reflection of its culture and society.

I learnt that everyone has an いきがい, a reason for living. For some its work or children or anything and everything in-between. What’s the reason you get up in the morning?

Mine? I’m about to begin a new adventure.


-H

Prison Restaurant

Last night we visited a prison restaurant for dinner. It was incredibly scary, and revealed to me how, though Japanese people may seem shy and reserved, they are always ready to try weird and wacky things. The restaurant was located underground, and to enter the eating area we had to first go through an abandoned haunted house, which really set the mood.

Upon entering, we were greeted by a policewoman, who promptly handcuffed me and dragged us to our cell. Each eating area is designed as a cell, complete with door and cracked walls. There is a table and whilst the door is always unlocked, it remains shut {unless you need the bathroom – of course}. All of the staff are dressed as prisoners and are incredibly spooky yet kind.






Our meal began with us ordering drinks, all of which were served in beakers, and accompanied by a complimentary non-alcoholic shot, coloured purple. Then we began to receive dishes, the most interesting was Russian roulette takoyaki. Unfortunately I ended up with the takoyaki filled with really hot sauce – but I’m kind of glad I did, less octopus for me!

About halfway in to our meal sirens started, the lights flicked on and off and an announcement was made – in 10 minutes a monster will come. There were several sound and light effects to set the mood, and then the lights turned back on and dinner resumed. This warning is to ensure customers are not out of their cell during the show.

10 minutes later all of the lights went out, scary sound effects and screams began and a black light turned on. This light made everybody’s teeth, lips and eyes glow eerily, and set the mood. I won’t spoil the surprise, but let’s just say we were visited by a few creatures of the night, and my host mother ended up on the floor.

Afterwards I expected the festivities to end, but as we were finishing our meal another announcement played over the speakers – Holly sama, omedetou! My lovely host family had taken me out for a surprise thank you party! The police woman entered out cell, accompanied by other members of staff and a man dressed as a skeleton. He held an amazing cake with sparklers, and we all took photos before digging in. It was such a lovely thought and so much fun – though quite frightening.




Before leaving, 夏帆 and I took a quick trip to the bathroom. My advice: Never. Go. Alone. In the cubicle a creepy girls voice scream and says things like ‘help me’, or ‘they’re coming’. So I recommend that the weak willed find a friend for toilet journeys, or perhaps consider waiting until you leave.

Overall it was a hectic an amazing experience, and I wouldn’t hesitate to do it again. After all, where else can you get locked up and fed by a skeleton?


-H

Snow day

A few days ago I woke up and the world was white, a quick peek out of my window revealed that everything was covered in a blanket of snow. It finally snowed in Tokyo! For the entire duration of my exchange I have been wondering about this ‘phenomenon’. Well, perhaps it is not that to those who live here, but for somebody like me, who lives in a city where it never snows, it was a really new and exciting experience.



The view from my backyard


School was half cancelled so I made use of my extra time and went outside in the dark. It was really beautiful to watch the world come to life in this snow globe, and the sun made the snow sparkle even more. The snow fell in blankets of untouched snowy plain, at least until you got to the main road, where it was riddled with footprints. Heaven forbid snow should prevent anyone from going to work.



Part of the line outside the station!


Ironically, it did., My whole train line was down, and with a three hour wait 夏帆、浩子 and I retreated back to the house to do some homework and eat sweets. After several attempts made by 義人 to enter the train station {there was a line outside about 300 people long} we gave up and waited for further news. There was a very small earthquake, and I learned that whilst most foreigners think it is best to get under a table during an earthquake, most Japanese just tweet {not through experience of course, the earthquake was rather small}.

Finally, at 11:30, there was a huge announcement, heard from inside our house. We were able to enter the train station and waited for a further 40 minutes before boarding and incredibly packed train. Both train and people were covered in snow, packed in so tightly you could barely breathe. And all that I could think about was how lucky it is that I am here now, because this would surely never happen in Melbourne.

We arrived at school 4 and a half hours late.


-H

Alice in Wonderland Cafe

Japan has an abundance of themed cafes and restaurants where you can visit your favourite fantasy land whilst dining on food in that theme. Recently, 夏帆 and I visited the Alice in Wonderland Tea Party Café in Harajuku. I had no idea what to expect, having never been to a themed café such as this before, and was pleasantly surprised when I arrived.



The Drink Bar


The whole café is underground, and to get there you must walk down a staircase decorated like wonderland. Seating in the café is on an immobile carousel, and large books with excerpts from the novel rest on the walls. The staff are dressed as either Alice or the Mad Hatter, and work hard to keep you in the Wonderland mood, explaining your food and its relevance and significance in the world of Alice and the Mad Hatter's tea party.

The most popular food choices are the set meals, where you can choose a main {think Cheshire Cat spaghetti or Card pizza} which is made up to look like one of the characters, have access to the drink bar – featuring a plethora of drinks as well as several bizarre and wonderful tea varieties - , as well as a dessert plate. This will cost around 1500 円, so about $15AUD.




Dessert Plate



My one piece of advice is to get there early, at around 11:00am, as the café is so popular that coming during the lunchtime rush may see you lining up for a while. When you are in the café, allow yourself to be pulled in to wonderland, and make sure to take plenty of photos! There really is a different atmosphere and mood, and while some might find it slightly creepy and Disney-esque, others {like 夏帆} really enjoys immersing themselves in the world of their favourite book or movie.

-H

The Beginning of the End

With just one week left in Japan I am eager to tie up all loose ends and make the most of what little time I have left. Today 桜 and I taught English classes all day – covering aspects of Indigenous Australian History as well as talking about Australia and Japan as a whole. It was really tiring and I have come to appreciate how much work actually goes in to teaching. Making a class plan, executing it, improving it, and then doing in 4-5 times over is incredibly hard, so for all those teachers out there, I definitely appreciate your dedication to your craft.

Yesterday I borrowed Far From The Maddening Crowd from the library, and am really enjoying reading it on the way to school. After school finished today, 夏帆 and I rushed to Harajuku to meet Nick and Keiko, my family friends, for lunch. The two took us out for Gyoza at an amazing restaurant, and afterwards we visited Magnolia, a cupcake shop that originated in Tokyo. All of the food was so delicious and, best of all, cheap!





We then walked from Harajuku to Shibuya, to meet 桜, as she is staying over tonight. Once everyone was home we all studied together until dinner time, and then feasted on various Japanese dishes, such as red bean soup and mochi.


It is so interesting to reflect on my time here, and though short, I believe that it has had a large impact on the way I view Japanese people, as well as Japan as a whole. I hope that, I too, have been able to somewhat bridge the gap between Australia and Japan, if only a little. If I can change one person’s view of Australia, make them more aware of the world around them, or if I can help one person learn one phrase in English, I will be content that I have fulfilled the purpose of my stay. 

-H

Learning Japanese and other subjects simultaneously

Over the short period of time that I have been here, I’ve learnt that the topics covered in Japanese subjects differ greatly to those in Australia. The stream I am currently in is based on Humanities, and involves classes like Modern and Old Chinese and Japanese literature, Modern and Imperial History and English communication, to name a few. As many of these subjects are not offered in Australia, I am eager to learn as much as I can during my stay – but the question remains, how can one learn Japanese and new content simultaneously?

The answer is actually pretty simple. Whilst in class, I will focus on Japanese, taking down all notes and trying to pick up as much as I can. Listening to teachers present a class will help you to become familiar with a more formal style of speaking – used for presentations and speeches, and different to Imperial Formal or incredibly polite speech. I think that the most important thing in all of my classes is Kanji. Being able to write Kanji correctly will enable you to identify it later, and make your handwriting more legible. One of my History teachers at the moment has incredibly lazy handwriting {Kanji for産業革命 can look like a bunch of scribbles} , and it is so difficult to make notes from.


Some of my notes from class on Influenza


Once at home, I will review my notes with a Kanji dictionary, so that I have a basic knowledge of the topic, before going to discuss with my host father. My host father is incredibly smart and keen to learn English, so he has a massive vocabulary. We will go through my notes and he will correct any wrong translations, as well as helping me to put my notes in to context. In addition to this, my host mother sometimes provides more insight, especially for Imperial subjects, as she was raised at the Yutoku Inari Shrine and is very knowledgeable about those topics.

It can be easy to sit up the back of the classroom and just let your mind wander, but the purpose of your exchange is to improve your Japanese and broaden your views of the world, so who wouldn’t take the opportunity to learn when abroad. Topics like the Meiji Bunka era, and the Industrial Revolution of Japan are not taught at my school, and in addition to this, a foreign perspective on a situation {especially history} can be very different. Make the most of the opportunity and learn for the fun of it {if only for once}!


-H

The BEST suburbs in Tokyo

Before I begin, I’d like to define the term “best”. According to my Japanese friends, the ‘best’ {suburb} indicates popularity, accessibility, and resources available. This is by no means a definitive list, but merely an indication of a few desirable areas to live in, for different age groups. Each of the three areas I have chosen has its pros and cons, as does every suburb, but I’d like to share these, if only to communicate the desires of Japanese for a living area – via a Japanese high school student {夏帆}

20s
The first area is targeted towards those in their 20s, young adults who are attending university or working. Apparently, the most desirable area for these people is Kitchijoujin. At the moment, this suburb is incredibly trendy. It holds lots of good cafes and small shops, as well as various department stores. There are also many parks in the area, making it an attractive spot. However, the price of property is incredibly high – leaving me to wonder how young people starting out can afford to live in this area. Nevertheless, it is, at least, the most desirable living area for people of this age range.

30s-40s
The next age group I am going to touch on is 30s-40s. People in this age range will have slightly more mature tastes, and most will be working or starting a family. Apparently a popular spot is Ebisu. It has many fashionable buildings, as well as lots of pubs and bars. 夏帆 tells me that this makes it more suitable for that age range. In addition to this, the area is popular because lots of actors live there. So perhaps people are moving to this area in the hopes of spotting their favourite celebrity?



Sazae san at Sakurashinmachi  - photo from here


Family
The last category I think is important is family. 夏帆 recommends Sakurashinmachi. This area is especially good for smaller children as the streets are filled with cartoon characters from the popular anime Sazae san. There are various parks and shrines nearby, making for easy days out. In addition to this, there are many small shops to visit, with large department stores just a little further out. This suburb is only 4 train stops from Shibuya, making getting to school more convenient for school-aged kids.

Though I haven’t covered every age or category, I believe that these three groups I have chosen target the times when people are most likely to be moving. Again, these are only the trendy suburbs at the moment, and I am by no means implying that other suburbs or areas are lesser or uninhabited. Happy House Hunting!


-H

Star Wars

So today I finally saw The Force Awakens! 千尋and I headed to the cinema to see it in IMAX, which I highly recommend. Cinemas in Japan are slightly different to those in Australia, for one, each seat has an allocated cup holder {with the number of the seat on it} so there is no confusion between two different parties. Prior to the movie, we went down to 7/11 to grab some warm drinks. These ‘warm drinks’ are amazing, and can be bought from most service stations or vending machines. They don’t require any hot water or anything, you buy them hot, in a bottle. I have no idea how they work but I am currently in love with them, especially hot milk tea.


Photo from here


The movie was amazing, and I won’t spoil it, but I am now wishing that the new Star Wars movie release date was sooner. 千尋 and I were very surprised at some of the events, and I am devastated about one part, but overall we agreed that the movie had a good ending. Like other Star Wars movies, the story line was fast paced and included the classic ‘Death Star’ object with only one weak spot.

Afterwards we headed home for some dinner. The topic of English vs Japanese phrasing came up in conversation. At the moment, 義人 is writing his final “scholar” {as he calls it – I’m not sure if that is the correct English term} for his PhD. Yesterday one of the English lecturers noted that Japanese and English people will phrase things in a slightly different way. For example, Japanese people will say: “he is running away from the shark”, whereas English people will say: “he is being chased by the shark / the shark is chasing him”. This slightly fractured perspective makes up some of the differences in casual and formal speech.

Tomorrow is a special day for 千尋, as she will be partaking in a special ceremony. She is 20 now and this ceremony is a part of becoming an adult. Tomorrow she will don traditional kimono and go to 学主因 for the ceremony. I am very excited for her, and wish her all the best for her adult life!


-H

Surgical Masks

In Japan, it’s not uncommon to come across somebody wearing a face mask. In fact, at my high school, around half to two thirds of the students will wear a surgical type mask throughout the day, including my home room teacher. Whilst in Australia wearing a surgical mask in public is only done if you are, in fact, a surgeon, it is the social norm in Japan, and here are some reasons why.

Before I begin, I would like to note that these reasons are purely based on what other people have told me, those living in Japan. Whilst there may be some large universal reason for wearing surgical masks, these are the reasons most commonly given by my fellow students at 学主因.

It helps keep the moisture ‘in’
Apparently when you breathe out you lose a ton of moisture from your body {again, not saying this is a fact, just folklore}, and this can lead to you becoming dehydrated. Like how some Japanese people have infusers or moisturizer machines in their room – those tiny box-like things you see at spas that eject steam – my friend tells me that the mask can help to trap this moisture, and prevent your skin from becoming dry.

To prevent other people from becoming sick
If you have a cold, wearing a mask to work or school is the charitable thing to do. Whilst missing school is unacceptable unless you are on death’s door, wearing a mask is an easy alternative. It allows you to complete your set tasks whilst keeping the germs in. And I can understand that this is good for your co-workers or fellow students, but I do wonder about the effect that it has on the wearer? Does trapping germs in really aid a speedy recovery? Perhaps this is a necessary evil.



When it's chilly out, you'll see hundreds of people wearing surgical masks 


To avoid becoming sick yourself
This seems pretty self-explanatory, and it makes sense. But I’d never really grasped the importance of this aspect before a train ride the other day. Prior to this train ride, I was sceptical about the real need for face masks as a way of protecting yourself – surely exposure to the elements can help to develop a better immune system or something {though I’ve done no research on the matter}. 

Now, I can say I kind of understand it, in winter at least. Because of the nature of the public transport system, you are always kept in close quarters with fellow commuters. At first, I found this to be a bit weird, but interesting and often hilarious. But when I found myself pressed up against a man who was coughing all over me, with my arm resting near a women sneezing, and a woman leaning on me {!} who had a cold and was on her phone so couldn’t be bothered holding herself up – I found myself wishing that I had a mask.

So I get it, or, at least I think I do. To somebody who lives in a totally different environment, wearing surgical masks as a part of everyday life can seem almost weird. While I am by no means trying to persuade you to begin this trend, I feel that it can be justified. And I hope that you have a slightly better understanding of the part that surgical masks play in day-to-day Japanese life.


-H

Disney Sea

Two days ago I visited Disney Sea with my host sister and the 学主因International Club. After a day of learning how to navigate this sprawling ‘city’, I picked up some handy hints that can cut down your time spent in those long lines.

The first helpful hint is to arrive before the opening time, and pre-purchase your tickets. We arrived half an hour early and the lines were already massive – so I really recommend doing this. Plan your route and head off early to ensure you are able to spend the whole day at the theme park. And yes, it really is a full day experience. In addition to this, I recommend looking up which ride has been released the most recently, which will come in to play with my next trip.

Once you get in to the park, head straight to the most recently built ride. Instead of hopping in line, hold tight on to your entry ticket and find the fast pass line. Here you can scan your ticket and receive a fast pass – for free – that allows you to skip the line at a certain time. You can have up to two fast pass tickets at any time, and then you need to use one before scanning for another.




Currently at Disney Sea, the most recently released ride is the Toy Story themed one – and if you are heading there soon I seriously recommend lining up for the fast pass, because everyone in Japan is crazy for it! My personal recommendation for fast pass is the Journey to The Centre of the Earth ride, the line is usually around 100 minutes, and it is the number one ride in Disney Sea {set in a huge volcano}.

My third tip is to go as a single rider. I can understand that it is nice to ride with friends, but if you are limited for time going as a single is a really good idea. Often, the lines are really quick, and chances are you will be in the same cart as your friend anyway.  

There you have it, my top three tips for Disney in Japan. Even though waiting in lines can be tedious, sometimes it’s worth it for a good ride {Indiana Jones, anyone?}. My friends and I found it really useful to buy some food and chow down whilst shuffling along. A final note, it isn’t called Disney Sea just because of some small water features, it can get really windy! So bring a jacket in winter or face the cold.


-H

Japanese Language Apps

There are hundreds of Japanese Study tool apps on the market, but let’s be honest – some are a complete waste of time. Today I am going to review three apps that I have been trialling, in terms of their effectiveness as a study tool.

Language Perfect
So everybody who goes to the same school as me will have used this app in class. You need a subscription {$40 monthly if private, or $40 annually with a school} which is a kind of pricey, but the tools provided have helped me study a lot! Also, it is great for developing vocabulary. It definitely isn’t for everyone, my fellow classmates seldom use it, but if you are a auditory learner, then this language study tool is quite useful. However, I don’t recommend it if you are a kinaesthetic or visual learner.

Duolingo
Honestly, I found this app to be really unhelpful, due to the incredibly simple content. While it can be helpful to know how to say ‘hello’ and ‘good evening’, it doesn’t provide any means to go further than this basic level of knowledge. The app is free, and possibly worth downloading if you are only interested in having a very basic knowledge of a language. But to someone who has been studying a language for a prolonged period of time – the app is completely useless.

Japanese – more than a dictionary
Funnily enough, the above title is actually the name of the app, and its free. I really think that this app is incredibly helpful, especially for learning vocabulary or translating words you don’t know. You can type in English or Japanese, as well as using your finger or a stylus to draw Kanji. Each search will give you multiple definitions, and a guide as to how to read them. The best part, it doesn’t rely of WiFi to function, so you can use it anywhere! I seriously recommend downloading this dictionary app if you are learning Japanese or planning a trip to Japan!

There you have it, three language apps that I have been trialling recently. Duolingo is definitely going in the trash, but for some people it could be a useful app. I’ll keep language perfect for now, thanks to my school’s subscription, but in the future I can’t see myself forking out $40 a month for studying tools online. Really, the most useful app is ‘Japanese’, and I am excited to continue using it in Japan!


-H

How to wrap a bento {simple style}

A bento is pretty much a Japanese lunch box. Though in the past it only consisted of one large box divided in to sections, today it can be made up of pretty much anything! With the exception of some items, like large soup containers or drink bottles, any containers that hold your lunch are generally wrapped in a bento -  so its handy to know how to wrap one.

First you’ll need a bento wrap cloth, called furoshiki, as well as your lunch. Before even considering wrapping it, take a look at your lunch. What is it made up of? If the answer is along the lines of… an uncut apple / food without a container, I would suggest finding a small paper bag, about half the size of an A4 sheet of paper, and placing your lunch in there.

The next step is to assemble your containers – how many are there and how big are they? Its only lunch, so you should have around 1-2 small containers, or 1 large one. Place the containers in the middle of the furoshiki, with the smaller width facing towards two corners on the wrap. If you have more than one container, stack the smaller on the larger and you’ll be good to go.

Following this, take the corner of the furoshiki that doesn’t have a container pointing to it, and place it over the container/s, tucking the bottom underneath them. Repeat this with the other side, but don’t worry about tucking in the bottom. 

Next, grab the two remaining corners and bring them to the middle. You can choose to twist them before, or just tie them in a double knot. If you are bringing cutlery {which should be in a tiny case} slot it in-between the containers and the knot. Grab your bento and place it in your school bag ready for lunch!


CasaBento furoshiki


The finished product should look something like this photo above, taken from CasaBento. This shop sells bento boxes as well as furoshiki, in a variety of designs and colours.
　
Good luck!


-H

The Yutoku Inari Shrine

The Yutoku Inari Shrine is located in Saga, Kyushu, and is one of the three largest Inari shrines in Japan. It is made up of several beautiful parts all of which come together to create a peaceful and spiritual atmosphere. For those Ghibli lovers, visiting is like stepping in to the world of ‘Spirited Away’, complete with the large red bridge to hold your breath whilst you cross.






The location of the shrine is parallel to a river, and this is because it is believed that gods are present in natural monuments {animism}, and also that their spiritual presence is higher in this area. The Yutoku Inari Shrine’s god is kitsune, the fox. Large statues of foxes decorate the entrance gate, and off to the side is a place with flowing water. Here, you can wash your hands by pouring water over them, to purify them before entering the shrine. In the old days, people used to also wash their whole body in the nearby river, no matter the season.

The shrine has so much to try, but before checking out all of the amazing things you can do, watch your step! All of the pathways in the shrine are made up of several blocks. { I I I I I I }. You might not notice, but all of the columns of blocks are always an odd number. This is because it is believed that the Gods walk on the centre column, so make sure you walk to the left of it.

You might have seen Japanese people receiving fortunes at shrines, these are called omikuji. They can be bought at the shrine for around 100-200 円{$1-2AUD}, and there are several varieties. From your standard full coverage {health, love, studies, work}, you also have love omikujis, as well as ones which tell you what your lucky stone will be for the next year.

Also at the shrine is a special love spot. There, you can pray for good fortune in love and even write a message to the Gods on a piece of wood. This area is well-known in Japan as a famous comedian visited, and a year later he married a very beautiful woman.





Take a trip up the red stairs and you will be greeted with an amazing view, both inside and out. This area is the shrine’s main, well, shrine. Toss in a few coins, ring the bell and pray by bowing twice, clapping your hands twice and bowing once again once you have finished your prayer. If you are lucky you might be able to see a formal ceremony inside the shrine – consisting of music, dancing and prayer.

Near this large part of the shrine is a spot that most people miss. To the left of the stairs is a small stone path, leading to a water pool. The idea behind this pool is that you churn up the water with the ladle provided and look in. If you can see your face clearly in the agitated water then something terrible will happen to you. If not, you’re good to go!

By far my favourite part of the shrine is the walk up the mountain. It is so scenic and lovely and every step is accompanied by hundreds of smaller shrines. The view from the top is superb and though the climb up is a little steep, it is well worth it {though I don’t recommend wearing heels}.





Once you have descended the mountain, pay a visit to the traditional Japanese garden. It is particularly gorgeous in spring, when all of the cherry blossoms are blooming. The entrance fee is only $2AUD, and the delicate scenery is well worth this very small price.

The Yutoku Inari Shrine is really one of the wonders of Japan. It is well known in Asian society, particularly Thailand, but not as much in Western culture. Honestly, it would be a shame to miss the opportunity to see one of the oldest and largest Inari shrines in Japan, so if you are headed that way, make sure to visit!

Find out more info about the Shrine, as well as the museum across the road here!

-H

Why I love Japan

I think that Japan is often very misunderstood as a nation. Too often I hear people mocking parts of their culture, or just disregarding them, simply because they don’t understand. And it can be easy to do this, Japan is very much a mono-culture, but different doesn’t mean wrong. If we take a step back and look at stereotypical Japan we see hundreds of high rise buildings, a massive population, and a plethora of weird/cute/creepy things {such as プリクラ}. So let’s break it down, and you’ll see why I love this country a lot.

Sure, in the city, there are a lot of buildings, and sometimes you feel as if you are indeed in the maze runner – but Japan in unique is a really special way. Where I live, certain areas indicate certain entities; the city has tall building, but if you walk down the road a little bit there is a large park, etc. You would think that this rule would also apply in Japan, but I can assure you that this is not the case. Where else in the world could you find a truly incredible pond in the middle of the urban sprawl? Or an amazing shrine, right next to the 7/11. Japan is full of pockets of nature, if you look for them – and stumbling across one unexpectedly is always the highlight of my day. Look at the picture below, taken at 東大, 20 metres away there are buildings so tall you have to crane your neck to see the top.





So the second stereotype is that Japan has a massive population, which is somewhat true. In urban areas, there are millions of people – just try riding a train in the morning. But visiting Saga showed me that this population density does not stretch the whole nation, as one might assume. There is nothing more amazing than standing in a rice field with only four other people and watching the sunset. Look to the left and the next house is 2 km away. And I know, the same can go for other countries too, if you know where to look.

Finally, the weird factor. I guess this really is the result of Japanese mono-culture, but it is so fun to embrace. The fashion and entertainment is so obscure and crazy, that you just need to let go and roll with it. Sure, you might not like everything, but I think the real issue that people have with odd stuff in Japan is that it is so different from what they are used to. To those people, I ask, why escape your hometown if you aren't willing to embrace the difference {perhaps you shouldn’t have left!}?

The mix of tradition and future technology merges seamlessly in to everyday life, and you’d be a fool not to take advantage of it. If you accept the quirks with an open mind, you might find that someone else’s reality makes a lot of sense.

-H

Colloquial Japanese

The various different forms of Japanese can be incredibly confusing {think plain-past-negative}, and often in a classroom environment you will only be exposed to polite or formal Japanese. Though I had learnt about colloquial Japanese at school, I was never really given a chance to practise it, so coming to Japan and speaking in only colloquial terms has been slightly difficult – but I’ve picked up some tricks along the way to ensure that you can communicate effectively.






The most important thing is to know a lot of verbs, and learning them in formal Japanese is fine. Once you know verbs, you can figure out the stem, and you’ll be able to communicate in past, present, future, plain and many other tenses. An easy example of this is 食べます – tabemasu {to eat}, the verb stem is clearly ‘tabe’, so my tip is that if you are unsure of how to phrase something, just use the verb stem and it will most likely be understood. For example, if you want to say: I want to eat chicken, then you would phrase it like this: チキンを食べ… The correct verb ending in this case is たい {want to}, so if you say that you will be able to get your message across.

My next tip is directly related to the one above, which is that normally if you peter off, people will say the correct verb to themselves. So I guess you should just listen to what they say instead of tuning out. They are freely giving you the answer, so use it in your next conversation. Perhaps even confirm the correct sentence by saying it again.

If you are listening to instructions and have no idea what is going on, watch their hand movements. People can often mime an action without thinking, and this will give you a clue as to what they want you to do. Often, like in English, the same verb can apply to a number of situations, so take note of them and use your brain.

I hope this post has been a little helpful in teaching colloquial Japanese. It’s really important to initiate conversations and get involved, rather than sitting on the sidelines and contemplating how bad your language skills are. Even if you don’t know how to phrase something – give it a try! As it is not your mother tongue people will cut you a lot of slack, so don’t be afraid of embarrassing yourself and leap in!

-H

佐賀

For the past half-week I visited my host mother’s family in Saga, Kyushu. I had never spared a thought for Kyushu before, considering it to be of less interest that other, more famous Japanese islands. Once there, I fell in love with the beautiful scenery and country charm – I definitely recommend stopping by if you are heading to Japan.

My day started early on the departure day, leaving at 6:50 for Haneda airport. The flight took around one and a half hours, and we hopped on a train to our destination. At the station, we were greeted by 恵子おねちゃん、my host mother’s older sister, and she kindly drove us around the area for the whole afternoon. We visited the beach, a mountain lookout, an old Japanese village as well as a Sake manufacturer. My favourite local spot was in the Japanese village, at the back of a Sake shop. There, we were greeted by a plethora of nick-knacks from the ‘20s onwards, as well as an incredibly Miyazaki-esque backyard.




Afterwards, we visited 夏帆 great grandmother, who is 99 at the moment. She is so charming and adorable, and lives on her family’s property – complete with a smaller shrine, rice field, two other houses and gates carved in the shape of their family crest. We then set off for dinner with the whole family. I was able to see 弘子 again, as well as meet her incredibly smart sister 直子. In addition to this, I was introduced to the whole family, and met 夏帆grandfather, the head of Yutoku Inari Shrine, and ともえせおにちゃん、next in line for this position {and son of the head}.

At the gates to the shrine


The next day we set off for the Shrine, which is one of the top three largest Inari shrines in Japan. The whole area is so beautiful with many activities and places to connect with spirituality, nature or friends. I really recommend visiting if you get the chance. As my host family is related to the Shrine head {the Shrine belongs to them} I was really fortunate to be received inside the Shrine.

Normally, you pray outside and look in – so this was a huge honour for me. After some food, we were lead up to a huge chamber, almost every inch decorated with gold. I participated in a praying ceremony {sorry, I can’t recall the formal name} which included spiritual dancers, musicians as well as an offering to the Shrine God {in this case, kitsune, the fox}.

Honestly, going to the shrine has been my favourite thing about Japan. If you are heading to Kyushu, or even just Japan, stop by and visit – you won’t be disappointed!

-H

Contact

hollyea@hotmail.com