「Circle (Non-Sports)」カテゴリーアーカイブ

Mia Piscitani: Taiko

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For my CIP activity, I joined a taiko circle at Fujinomori Shrine. Practices were held weekly on Tuesdays and Fridays from 7-9PM. I went once every week on Tuesday. For the first hour, we practiced rhythm and hitting techniques, and then for the second hour, the main members of the taiko circle practiced songs for their upcoming performance, which we watched from the side. After spring break, we learned how to read sheet music for a song KCJS students are required to perform to mark the completion of their CIP. 

I am so glad to have chosen taiko for my CIP activity! At Fujinomori Shrine, the sense of community is very strong, and everyone is welcoming and friendly. Taiko can be physically and mentally demanding, but it is motivating to see others pushing themselves to perform at their best and encouraging others to do the same. The section leaders and bosses can be quite strict, but they lead with good intentions in mind. 

I highly recommend taiko to anyone, especially if you enjoy music and moving your body (it’s a great shoulder workout)! If I were to give any advice, I would suggest to make as much conversation with the regular members as you can, such as asking how long they’ve been doing it for, and how they got involved into it. However, many members are busy with helping move drums around or just simply catching their breath during breaks. I believe the best way to bond in this setting is to do the same, so don’t worry if you feel like you’re not making enough conversation. Additionally, the teaching style of some leaders can be quite strict and intimidating, but don’t take it personally.



Sakano Kiki: Kyoto University Choir

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For my CIP, I participated in the Kyoto University Choir, joining their weekly evening rehearsals on the Kyoto University campus. They have three practices a week, and you can choose whichever days you would like to go. I sang with the Alto section and had a really fun time experiencing what it was like to be part of a fully student-organized Japanese musical circle.

Over the semester, choir slowly shifted from something unfamiliar and intimidating to a normal, comfortable part of my weekly routine. Observing how clearly the student leaders organized rehearsals gave me a new appreciation for role delegation, respect, and group communication in Japan.

Don’t stress if things feel awkward or slow at first. Relationships in any student groups take time, not force. Even if you’re shy like me, show small signs of engagement (greetings, nodding, following instructions carefully), and they are so kind, so you’ll naturally blend into the group before you realize it!

Jake Korde: Stargazing At Doshisha University

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This semester, I joined a stargazing circle at Doshisha University. The activities ranged from field trips to see meteor showers, to selling fried ice cream at the school’s anniversary festival. There were also several days where the activity was just hanging out. For instance, there was one day where we played card games while waiting for the sun to set, and then went out to dinner after the activity ended.

I had an amazing time at my CIP. Initially, I had wanted to do join a photography circle, but none of them ended up working out. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do, but I know I wanted to join a circle at Doshisha because I wanted to make Japanese friends. Circles at Japanese universities are often a way for the members to meet new people and make friends. I was lucky enough to meet many lovely people through the stargazing circle and make lasting connections.

My advice for any incoming student is that the CIP is what you make of it. There were multiple times where I had stargazing activities that evening, but I was feeling tired or apathetic and not wanting to go. In the end, I pushed myself to go and it paid off tremendously. No matter what CIP you choose, you can always make the most of it!

Jordan Lin(Breakdancing club: Egoistic Dancers)

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For my CIP, I participated in the hip-hop/breakdancing club called Egoistic Dancers.  At the club, we did some workshops and taught each other moves.  They have different group chats for what year of breaking you are at, for example, if you are a first year, they would invite you to beginner workshops. The club didn’t really do any cyphering, which I feel like was very much needed, as it allowed everyone to interact with each other.  Many of the club members were very busy with upcoming tournaments and shows, thus there was not much room to interact with fellow breakers.  Unfortunately, they also did not have a real break space, so I would often go to another place to break.  Some advice would be to do some more research before committing to a CIP, and it doesn’t always have to be something that you are really into, because if I could go back, I would have changed my CIP to something I’ve never done before but had some interest in.  I think CIP should be moreso a place to meet and interact with the local Japanese students.

Ben Grijalva: ‘Wasshoi’ Circle at Kyoto University

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For my CIP, I joined Wasshoi, a circle at Kyoto University focused on agricultural activities, community engagement and rural revitalization in the small but beautiful village of Miyama. Together with a group of core members, I traveled to this village bimonthly to participate in activities such as edamame harvesting, building a corn maze for kids and harvesting thatch for a local renovation project!

Though this was a massive time commitment, my experiences in Miyama were among the highlights of my semester at KCJS. Between sobering conversations about rural life and late nights bonding as a group, I can confidently say that being able to connect with fellow college students, local farmers and children alike was an invaluable opportunity that taught me a lot about rural Japanese community and culture.

I would definitely say don’t be afraid to look outside of the provided CIP list! If there’s a group or club that really interests you, reach out! Chances are the first one you find won’t work out, but don’t be afraid to keep trying; it paid off for me! For anybody interested in rural agricultural work like this and willing to commit several of their weekend days, I wholeheartedly recommend Wasshoi. They welcomed me with open arms, and I’m glad to consider many of them my friends. I only wish I had more time to see what they do next!

Julia Ramsay: Kyoto Echo Choir

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Introduction: Kyoto Echo Choir is a tight-knit, extremely welcoming community choir. They sing choir music in a variety of languages, including Japanese, English, and Latin.

 

Comments: I had an incredible experience singing with the Kyoto Echo Choir. Not only did I advance my musical ability by rehearsing with a talented group of singers, but my Japanese got better through chatting with the members and sight-reading music in Japanese.

 

Advice: Kyoto Echo Choir is a very welcoming group, so there are no worries about not fitting in. However, since they take members all year long, they move very quickly musically. If you are considering joining this choir, I would recommend being sure you are confident in your ability to pick up music quickly, since they will not teach it to you directly and in my experience you are not allowed to take the music home to practice.

August Kittleson: Fujinomori Taiko Preservation Society

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For my CIP, I learned how to perform Taiko drumming with Fujinomori Taiko Preservation Society! This large, multigenerational group met at Fujinomori Shrine twice a week to practice compositions they would practice in many festivals around Kyoto. I loved meeting all sorts of different people while connecting to my passion of drumming. For any incoming students stressed about the prospect of a CIP, it will feel very stressful the first couple weeks. But, after that, things will mellow out and you’ll meet some incredibly friendly, non-judgmental, and playful people ever–that’s when you’ll make so many wonderful memories. But don’t give up!

Zhihe Tian: KGK (Christian Student Association)

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My CIP activity is participating in KGK (Christian Student Association). KGK is a circle that any student can join to meet other students and learn about God and the Bible. There are weekly meetings (Tuesdays) starting at 6:30 PM. We will start with worship (singing songs), then self-introduction, then break up into small groups (4-5 people) and chat about a given topic to get to know each other and learn about the Bible. 


As for advice for incoming students, I encourage you to come to KGK’s meeting even if just once. The friendliest and most open people I have met in Japan are from KGK. The first time I joined, people came up and introduced themselves to me. Everyone is curious about the newcomers and wants to be your friend. I was one of 2-3 foreigners who participated regularly. KGK is majority Japanese students and everything is in Japanese. Despite not being able to understand everything (especially when I first arrived in Kyoto), the warm atmosphere makes going worthwhile. There is an Australian missionary who comes to the meeting weekly, so if you need translation, someone is there for you. Also, I’m not a Christian, but just interested in Christianity, so even if you are not Christian, you are more than welcome to come. 


In spring, there is a 3-day camp for KGK that I attended. It was a bit scary because there are a lot of people and the number of foreigners is few, but I’m really really glad I went because I bonded with the locals and had a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Going to KGK has made my time in Japan very special. I bonded with the locals and had cheerful moments I otherwise wouldn’t have.

Naomi Lam: (Classical) Guitar Club

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My CIP activity is the guitar club. I learned how to play the guitar, specifically the classical guitar. I was learning how to play the electric guitar, so I picked the guitar club, thinking learning the classical guitar wouldn’t be too different from the electric guitar. I was also exposed to new music genres like bossa nova and just classical guitar music.
Advice for beginners like me, I would start by learning simple songs and knowing the Solfege notation.

Nadia Perdue: Participation at Kyoto University Choir

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This semester I participated in the Kyoto University Choir for about 2-3 times a week, 2.5 hours per rehearsal. On Mondays, the upper and lower voices would hold rehearsals separately, but Wednesday and Friday rehearsals were co-ed. Most of the songs we sang were entirely in Japanese, most of which I had not heard of before joining.

I have been in several vocal groups over the past few years, but this was a completely new experience. Aside from the language barrier—such as learning completely terms for music-related terminology that I was familiar with in English—the cultural differences were a completely new playing field. We take our shoes off before entering the ensemble room, clean up when we are done, and tell our fellow singers 「お疲れ様です」at the start and end of rehearsal. Moreover, at the beginning of rehearsals, not only did we do vocal warm-ups, but physical warm-ups, 体操, as well. For about 20 minutes, our ensemble dedicated time to doing anything from a few sets of squats, to full-on core exercises. We also did a few interactive warm-ups, as well, which encouraged me to break out of my shell and collaborate with my fellow singers. It was a wonderful experience getting to combine my love for music with my passion for learning more about Japanese language, Japanese music, and Japanese culture!

Even if you do not have any musical experience, I would certain encourage you to join the ensemble. Everyone was very welcoming to singers of all skill levels, and if you have any questions about anything, ask. Many times, I would feel embarrassed to ask a fellow singer on my part a question like, “What’s this musical concept called in Japanese?” However, as I bonded more and more with the people on my part, I realized that there is nothing wrong with asking questions. Once I understood this, I had a much more enjoyable experience, and learned so much in the long run.