「Boston University」カテゴリーアーカイブ

Nguyen Phuong Anh: Ikebana

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Ikebana, or Kado (花道), the way of flowers, teaches me more than simply how to arrange flowers. It is a discipline through which Japanese people express their philosophy of life as well as their culture.

From my experience, simplicity seems to be method towards attaining beauty and perfection in ikebana. Whenever my ikebana sensei, Ishikawa-sensei, fixes my work, she always mentions that if I think a branch, a few buds, or even multiple leaves are unnecessary to the form, I must not hesitate to cut them out. In order to reveal what is important, one should eliminate any distractions. I find this philosophy very enticing, and actually practical, as it helps me gain determination carrying out my intention.

Interestingly, although ikebana may seem entirely like a creative expression, within its core lies a set of rules expected to be followed. Depending on the season, only certain flowers are chosen to be arranged.  As the meaning of each flower varies, certain ones are meant for certain events. In addition, practitioners must sit in seiza form, hold their scissors properly, and cut the stem at the right angle. Then comes the rules of arranging a specific style itself. The length of the stem, the direction and angle of the flower, and the vessel used vary depending on what style the practitioner chooses. This is Saga Goryu’s approach to achieve 「花を知り、花と語らう、その心と技」.

 

Such rules, I believe, are to help the practitioner reach simplicity in the final work easier.

 

However austere my description of practicing ikebana may sound, my experience with ikebana, in fact, teaches me how to be happy. Through hard work and complicated rules, the final work is a simple expression of achievement. Then with some tea and sweets, we reflect on our work, on the process we have been through, and be content with a simple flower in the centre.

I also found a contradiction between my expectation and reality while practicing at sensei’s house. I’ve always imagined a serene setting with high concentration, but there were a lot of interactions among the senpais during practice. In addition to admiring and commenting on the work after someone finishes arranging, the conversations between senpais revolve around daily life things as well.

My experience with ikebana through doing CIP has been a combination of both modern and traditional Japan. While the teachings are strict, the environment within the sensei’s house is completely casual. It is amazing to see both happening at the same time and place.

Daizhen Zheng: Impact HUB Kyoto

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It was a great experience working at Impact HUB Kyoto with the other KCJS students and HUB staff over this semester. Impact HUB Kyoto is a place where creative people gather and work on different programs that connect and inspire people. At HUB, I mainly worked as a translator to translate event blogs, instructions and flyers from Japanese to English.

The working environment in Impact HUB could not be better, as it is located in a traditional Japanese style building where there is a bamboo forest in the yard, a Noh stage and tatami rooms on the second floor. At the beginning of the semester, we had a couple of meetings where we got to know different HUB members and had a general idea about how HUB works. We were also individually interviewed on our background and specific things we were interested in. I chose to do the translation along with another KCJS student Baylee, as translation from Japanese to English is a good practice of my language skills outside the class.

Aside from the translation work, we were also welcomed to attend any of the HUB events. I participated in an event about Shugendo, a combination of Shinto and Buddhism, during which I took photos and shot videos. Even though the guest speaker’s words were difficult to understand, as the event was related to religions, one of the HUB staff, Eri-san, was interpreting for us for the whole time. I would not have been able to understand everything without her help. After the event, I was also asked to write my thoughts on the event.

Translating from Japanese to English is a huge challenge for me, as it is difficult to find equivalent words in English (sometimes it is even impossible). When I started out translating, I had a hard time understanding the meaning of some long sentences in the blog, and I turned to the HUB staff for help. When I finished translating one article, HUB staff would go over it and then post it online. It was a great pleasure seeing your own translation work on their website. Even though translation was very time-consuming, and  it was easy to get bored, HUB has always been a place to relax. It was an unforgettable experience overall.

It is worth mentioning that every week we had a general meeting that basically lasted  for an hour and half. During the meeting, there was a “check-in” part and a “check-out” part, both of which were a good opportunity to share with the other interns and HUB staff about school lives, personal experiences in Kyoto, etc. I appreciate that HUB staff were patiently listening to my talks, even though sometimes I was too nervous to think about anything interesting to say. Whenever I had questions or I wanted to ask for permission, I got to practice oral Japanese in different occasions. Even though every week I spent about five hours working at HUB Kyoto, I think it was worth time and effort doing it.

Justin Chao: HUB Kyoto

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Upon hearing about KCJS’ CIP requirement, I found myself struggling with 2 possible choices. The first was to pursue my interests and seek some kind of personal project; examples being to learn a form of Japanese craft such as an instrument or Karate or something along those lines, and the other being to pursue an opportunity that would be help me in finding a job after college. I decided upon the latter, participating in Impact HUB Kyoto. What initially drew me to HUB was the laid-back environment and overall emphasis on being a self-starter. This did not change throughout the semester, as the laid-back environment and encouragement of pursuing individual interests and projects did not cease to exist. As an example, I initially started on a Facebook/social media project where I would supplement HUB Kyoto’s Facebook page with my own page in English. However, after a period of research, I had second thoughts pertaining to the practicality of such a project, and instead, worked on translating newsletters from Japanese into English. The flexibility and encouragement permeating through HUB was a huge positive for me, as it allowed me to pursue projects related to my interests; social media marketing and translation, whilst volunteering under an entrepreneurship network that could help me out in the future, as far as finding work.

On the topic of the HUB network, another aspect that greatly interested me was the overall atmosphere and manner in which HUB is run. Because its members are so laid-back and emphasize self-starting, HUB stands in firm contrast to my image of a stereotypical Japanese business. One characteristic of culture shock I have experienced is how intense Japanese working ethics and culture is, and after being involved with HUB for a period of time, I am very happy to see that although the Japanese salaryman life is not particularly all fun and games, there are always exceptions, of which is exemplified by HUB. Granted, HUB is a worldwide network of entrepreneurs, however it is encouraging to know that if I were to absolutely want to try and pursue opportunities in Japan in the future, I am not necessarily confined to the never-ending hustle of a typical Japanese corporation.

Overall, I am happy to have been involved with HUB Kyoto. There have certainly been times where it felt like actual work as opposed to a fun way to get involved in the Kyoto community, but in retrospect the opportunities to pursue projects such as social media marketing in a Japanese context and translation work, as well as the experience of feeling the positive community of HUB first-hand are truly an invaluable experience for me. If my time in Kyoto had been longer, and my schedule was not so confined by school and the home-stay, I feel as if HUB would had been exactly the kind of opportunity I was looking for, as far as doing something fun and productive in Japan for an indefinite period of time.

ギルモア・コリン：Impact Hub Kyoto

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私はCIPでImpact Hub Kyotoという団体でボランティアしました。HUBは何か達成したい信条を持っている人のコミュニティです。HUBでは、その信条を果たすのを手伝うために、色々な面白い人に会ったり、新しい事をならったり、助力を貰ったり、協力をしたりできます。

私と一緒に働くメンバーはエリさんとトモアツさんです。他のKCJSの学生もHUBでボランティアしています。エリさんとトモアツさんは私たちの色々なプロジェクトについて教えてくださいます。私のプロジェクトはニュースレッターのデザインを作ることでした。

それから、一ヶ月に一回、ボランティアでHUBのイベントに行かなければ行けません。それで、先週の金曜日にHUB Kitchenというイベントに行きました。そのイベントはHUBのコミュニティのメンバーの新しい本の出版を祝うためでした。そこで面白い人にたくさん会いまし た。同志社大学生と友だちになって、ザ・ラスト・サムライのガイドも会いました！すごく楽しかったです。

CIPのHUBの経験はとても楽しかったです。HUBのコミュニティにも京都のコミュニティにも接することができて嬉しいです。

トリ・モアー：ニコニコトマトのボランティア

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一ヶ月頃前、京都大学病院でニコニコトマトという組織で毎週水曜日ボランティアとして働き始めました。京都大学病院は鴨川の東側の今出川と四条のちょうど真ん中にあります。病院はその地域の一画の全部で、６階建てのすごい建物です。病院自体は四階建ての三十七の診療科がある病院で、しかもレストランとカフェも入っており、全体で一区画になっています。病院の雰囲気はビジネスライクでいつも込んでいます（でも、駅の混雑ほどという訳ではない）。医療に興味があると言っても、行き始めた時はすごく緊張していました。

京都大学病院でニコニコトマトのプレイルーム

京都大学病院でニコニコトマトのプレイルーム

しかし、四階の小さくて可愛いトマトのマスコットが貼ったドアを開け一歩入ったら、そのビジネスライクな雰囲気がすぐなくなってしまいます。たいてい来るボランティアは主婦で、皆いつも優しくて世話をしてくださる人です。ボランティアの係りの河合さんはいつもいて、その人はその日の予定を教えるくれ、三階にあるプレイルームで荒井さんという、子供に教えるのが上手な自然科学の先生を手伝いながら子供達と遊びます。プレイルームに行かない時、ニコニコトマトの普通の活動は募金活動のための商品を整理したり、 休日のスタッフのためにプレゼントを作ったりします。ボランティアをしたかったら、ニコニコトマトはいい場所で、私も再来週の行くのを楽しみにしています。

ニコニコトマトのホームページ

グエン・フーン・アン：いけばな

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image

いけばなをしています。別に花が好きなわけではありません。ただ日本人にとって、いけばなはどういう意味を持っているか、何を教えているか知りたいんです。また、私がいけばなから何を習えるかも知りたいんです。

一週間に一回石川先生の家でいけばなを練習します。同志社大学から歩いて１５分ぐらい授業の場所に後届けます。今、嵯峨御流といういけばなの流派盛り花を習っていて、伝統的なも教えてくれています。石川先生の学生はほとんど正座をしながら花をアレンジしますが、私にはそうしなくてもいいと言ってくれださって助かりました。

いけばなをすると、花の名前と生け方を習える以外に、四季も分かるようになります。毎回違う春の花で春を表現できます。生けてから、和菓子を食べたりお茶を飲みながら生けた花のデザインを考えたりします。日本に来る前に、3Dアートについての経験が全然ないので、今機会が来て、毎週のお稽古が楽しみです。

ジャスティン・チャオ：HUB Kyoto

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私のCIPはHUB Kyotoです。HUBは今出川の近くにあるから、キャンパスからは歩いて行けません。毎週、水曜日に一時から四時半ぐらいまでHUBでCIPをすることになっています。HUBにいる時、他のインターンと係の人とCIPの事をします。

これまで、CIPでは名刺の情報を新しいデータベースに入れる仕事をしてきました。これはちょっと易しそうけど、実は難しいと思います。よく名刺に人の名前が漢字だけで書いてあります。だから、漢字を読む練習として、いい練習だと思います。それから、その名詞について、どんな情報が書いてあるかがアメリカと比べると、とても面白いです。時々、その名刺に漢字だけあり、その名刺のデザインはシンプルで、ミニマリストです。そのミニマリストな名刺を受け取るのが日本の会社です。でも、時々、名刺が洋風なデザインで、漢字もあり、ローマ字もあり、その名刺の見た目がぜんぜん違うこともあります。専門が国際関係なので、このような事に興味があります。

 

ダイジェン・ジェン：HUB Kyoto

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ボストンにいた時、「Impact Hub」という場所のことを聞いたことがある。そこに行ってみたくても、時間がなかったので、いつも行けなかった。一月にKCJSに来て、「Impact Hub Kyoto」 のインターシップの機会を聞いたので、ぜひ行くことにした。

「Impact Hub Kyoto」というのは、社会や世界を変革したい人たちが集まり、いろいろなイベントを催し、新しい行動を起こす場所だ。社会や世界を変えるために、まず自分が変わらなければいけない。

最初の日に、Hubのスタッフがオリエンテーションをしてくれ、三ヶ月間ぐらいイベントのブログを英語に翻訳することと、イベントに参加し、感想を書くことに決めた。イベントの話はわかりにくかったが、スタッフがよく通訳してくれたのでよかった。イベントに行った時は写真やビデオも撮ることになっている。

Hubは新しい思想を交流するところだし、日本人のスタッフと日本語を練習するいい場所だから、そこでインターシップをしていることは素晴らしい経験だと思う。

James Ross: Kyoto University Weight Training

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For my Community Involvement Project, I joined the Kyoto University Weightlifting team. It has been a fantastic experience, and one of the highlights of my semester abroad in Japan. When I first planned on joining a weightlifting team, I thought it would be some kind of group where I would go and work out for an hour or so a week whilst awkwardly trying to communicate with my Japanese contemporaries. Upon attending my first practice, I quickly realized these preconceptions to be quite untrue.

First of all, it was not a place to just “work out for an hour or so a week”. Practice generally lasted 2 ½ to 3 hours, and I usually went twice per week. Before coming to Japan, I had little experience with Olympic Style Weightlifting, in fact, I had no experience at all, save for a small overlap in exercises with some of my previous weight lifting endeavors. At the beginning, the coach, Arima-sensei, seemed like a very helpful and knowledgeable coach. Now at the end, (even with a vast array of athletic experience and many good coaches) he seems like one of the best athletic teachers I have ever had. He is more knowledgeable about his field than any other coach I have ever worked with, and was very adept at explaining various difficult concepts and techniques necessary to become a successful weightlifter. Also, this being a small group, I was able to receive much more one-on-one guidance than I ever would have in a training session for an organized sports team. Since entering college, I have found it very difficult to maintain a consistent workout schedule, and found myself losing a vast majority of the athletic ability I had built up over many years of athletics throughout my childhood and high school. Under Arima-sensei’s tutelage, and support from my team members, I was able to come close to (and even surpass) some of my accomplishments from high school four years ago.

As for “awkwardly communicating in Japanese”, I can’t say that communication was always effortless and harmonious, but the other team members were very patient with my less than 上手 Japanese ability. With the exception of another study abroad student from Germany, none of my teammates spoke (or were confident enough to speak) English with me. This provided me an excellent opportunity to use the language, without the option of using English as a crutch. A lot of the new vocabulary I learned was very specialized and perhaps not all that useful (names of exercises and the like), but often the team would go to dinner after practice or spend time chatting about nonsense between sets. This was a great opportunity to talk in Japanese with students who grew up in a culture vastly different from mine, but share the same interests.

I think I accomplished many of my goals with my CIP. Before coming to Japan, I had intended to play rugby, and when that didn’t workout (no pun intended), I was a little disappointed, but I was determined to find another sports activity. I was excited when I discovered weight lifting, but I was a little nervous. As far as I know, no other KCJS student had joined their club, so I didn’t know how receptive they would be to a study abroad student from Doshisha. But, I was able to contact them myself and started practicing without any problems. Even before arriving in Japan, I was nervous about contacting my CIP, but I think the whole initial contact process went quite well. I was also glad to have joined a community outside of my English speaking friends and my comfort zone at Doshisha.

Richard Farrell: GRADATION LGBT Circle

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This semester I’ve been going to the lunch meetings of Doshisha University’s LGBT social circle, GRADATION. I had hoped to really get a picture of what it was like to be a member of the LGBTQ+ community as a college student in Japan. However, while I feel like I’ve been able to make some insights into the opinions of members of the group on their lives, I never really felt like I was really a part of the community or was ever really seeing what their everyday lives were like.

First of all, the group, by its very nature, is separate from the rest of the members’ lives. As I said in the last blog post, the members use nicknames in the club and agree not to relate any personal information discussed in a meeting to anyone outside of the meeting. I can’t confirm whether or not the names people used to introduce themselves were their real names or not. I got the feeling that for the most part the people attending the meetings didn’t know each other very well or at all outside of GRADATION. No one ever slipped and called someone by their real name. Other than two leader figures, one of which was the kaichō, there was significant distance between the members of the circle. Those two leader figures definitely seemed to know each other in ‘real life.’ They also usually sat next to each other. The rest of the regulars at the meetings always sat in the same seat, at least two or more seats from another person. To match the physical distance, there was obvious social distance between the members as well. Two of the regulars used desu-masu with the other members. There were also often awkward silences. Conversation was usually very hard to more forward. I’m sure that some of this was on my account, being a foreigner, but there was definitely tension between the members of the group as well. Whenever this happened, the kaichō or their friend would bring up a topic like food or anime that everyone could have an opinion on.

The topics of the meetings rarely turned to anything having to do with LGBTQ+ issues. When they did, there was a palpable apprehension from most of the members of the group. It was clear that the members were not at all used to talking about their sexuality. Mostly these conversations were about favorite districts, bars and clubs in Osaka. One day a member shared pictures of person in their class that they had a crush on. That was the closest the conversation ever got to the private lives of the members.

Another frustrating part of my experience was that gender never came up as a topic. In the meetings I attended there was never a Japanese person who performed as a woman. I’ve heard from others who attended that there are women who attend the meetings, but they are clearly a very small minority of the circle. Trans* issues never came up as a topic. In U.S. LGBTQ+ groups it is standard practice to give people a chance to request a specific pronoun to use when referring to them. Since gender pronouns are unnecessary in Japanese, this opportunity never came up. The gender identities of the group members were never discussed.

At first I was disappointed at the differences with American groups but I feel like this experience has given me a small look at how taboo LGBTQ+ topics are in Japanese society. And, consequently, how separate people’s ‘queer’ life is from their public life.