「Private or Group Lesson (Non-Sports)」カテゴリーアーカイブ

Oscar Fong: Koto Lessons

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For my CIP, I took individual lessons on the koto, doing 1-on-1 sessions for an hour every week. We praticed the basics of actually playing the instrument, before focusing in on a few songs that would be performed at the last lesson as a “concert”!

The instrument itself was really fun (and nice to listen to), but long sessions did sometimes make my hand cramp up. I kept at it, though, and eventually reached a point where I was playing along with another instrument in practice for that concert. I even got a beginner’s certification at the end!

I was initially really scared to start this, because I had had almost zero experience with real-world formal situations and was afraid I’d say the wrong thing or do something rude, but interacting with my teacher over the weeks helped me realize that it’s not all that serious – these people are just like you, and there’s no reason to let that scare you away!

Walker Turley: Roketsuzome

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I studied Roketsuzome (wax resist dyeing) under 金井先生. Over the course of the semester I worked on creating a singular large piece.

The experience was very fun! 金井先生 was very kind and even though I wasn’t very confident in my Japanese, he explained things in a not difficult way.

My main advice is to do something you’d find interesting and don’t be afraid to make mistakes; that’s part of the learning process.

 

David Park: Ikebana

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At KCJS, I had the opportunity to learn Ikebana under Ashida Sensei. I first learned the basic rules of Ikebana and the general mindset one should possess while placing the flowers. Then I was free to create my pieces in any manner as long as I followed the few rules. We explored different styles of Ikebana such as traditional style, vertical style, modern style, etc. I learned a great deal regarding the aesthetic of Japanese flowers and the way the people of old regarded beauty.

Daniel Anton: Zen Meditation

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My CIP activity involved a mix of group lessons and volunteering at Nagaoka Zen-Juku, a rinzai-sect zen training center in Nagaokakyo. Weekdays would be spent cleaning the temple in a practice known as samu (作務). Weekends would involve participating in 3-hour zen meditation sessions with a lecture from Hasegawa-san, the head monk of the center, on key topics in Buddhism. Because this was a center and not a traditional temple, I felt the rules were more relaxed and I was able to make more mistakes than when I had practiced Soto-zen in America.

In an age where we are constantly asked to be “always active” (whether it be school, career hunting, or social media), it can often feel like you’re lost in a sea of anxiety. For that reason, I was looking for a place where I would be able to increase my cultural understanding while also practicing to manage my anxiety in a new and unfamiliar country.

Overall, through the CIP I was able to have many great experiences not just with Hasegawa-san, but others who studied at the temple as well. This involved always saying “yes” to when Japanese people at your CIP invite you to things outside of the CIP! The lectures were especially intense, but it was the perfect CIP to increase my understanding of the language. I would recommend to come into your CIP with the understanding that you won’t get everything right away, but to not let that discourage you from taking a leap into something new!

Mika Fishell: Ikebana

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I was given the opportunity to join an Ikebana class for my CIP. While focusing on learning the foundation of Moribana, the lessons did go into more modern styles of Ikebana. Within the lesson, while given diagrams on the composition of each piece, I was given creative freedom within those requirements. After the lesson finishes, the teacher will check the work and make suggestions and explain in which ways I could improve my work. If you chose this CIP, while it does incur a monthly cost, it was very beginner friendly. This is the case both in terms of the Japanese, as the professor could speak English, as well as the art form itself. No real background in flower arranging is necessary. Some of the lessons were taken in his house. When starting I felt unprepared to enter a house, but I think he was very forgiving and over time I became more comfortable with the etiquette.

Jack Garza: Taiko Drumming at Fujinomori Shrine

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For my CIP, I participated in the 藤森太鼓保存会 (Fujinomori Taiko Preservation Society) alongside another KCJS student. We attended weekly practices at Fujinomori Shrine, practicing taiko drumming for about an hour and a half with around 15 other members. Taiko practice is both physically demanding and mentally engaging, requiring coordination, rhythm, and group synchronization. The experience is very hands-on, with a strong community dynamic where you learn by observing and practicing, and it gave me a better understanding of how traditional arts are passed down. I’d highly recommend this CIP because it’s immersive and the members are very welcoming. One piece of advice is to not be afraid of making mistakes (even experienced members do!) just stay consistent and focus on improving over time.

Joseph Wu, Shamisen

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In the shamisen class, you’ll learn to play this instrument from scratch and eventually be able to perform four complete pieces at the very end. You will perform a final ensembled performance in the last session with other students learning koto or shakuhachi. The overall experience is very immersive and memorable. The whole process of learning isn’t just about learning how to play the instrument but about communicating with your teacher and absorb knowledges and experience the Japanese traditional style of mentor-apprentice relationship.

Kayla Hall: Weaving Lessons

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For my CIP this semester, I chose to do weaving lessons with Kawasaki Sensei once a week. Through this CIP, I learned to weave a new pattern each session. 

I found this experience to be enjoyable and, honestly, very relaxing. I used these sessions to take my mind off work and focus mainly on improving my speaking skills. However, not only did I get to practice my Japanese speaking skills, but I also got to learn a new skill that I had never tried before. Even though I started very unconfident, with the encouragement of my sensei, I felt more at ease trying new things and holding genuine conversations with him and his wife.

I think for future students choosing their CIP, please don’t be afraid to ask questions and allow yourself to make mistakes. Especially when doing lessons like weaving, just being myself and allowing myself to relax around my sensei was the best way for me to learn from him. Additionally, once you allow yourself to be more open, your conversations each week will become less strained and/or robotic, and instead, friendly and like catching up with an old friend.

Alexandra Klein: Pottery

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My CIP activity was attending group pottery lessons three times a month at Ikoma Ceramics. The studio offered a very nice intimate setting where I worked with the instructor and four other local participants. Since we all shared one large table while working on our individual pieces, it was easy to have fun, engaging conversations. Being the only college student in the group meant I was always with people older than me, which provided a great real-world environment to practice the polite Japanese I learned in class.

The sessions were held on Wednesdays or Sundays and lasted two hours each. I really enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere; it felt like a safe space to ask questions or simply work on my pottery to de-stress. Through this activity, I became more confident speaking Japanese and understanding the local dialect.

I really recommend Ms. Ikoma’s studio! She is very approachable and flexible with scheduling through text. If you’re looking for creative freedom and want to craft some unique pottery pieces to take home, this is the perfect opportunity.