「Hamilton College」カテゴリーアーカイブ

Floe Yang: Kyudo

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My CIP activity is kyudo in the 道場 of 武道センター. It was a kind of Japanese traditional sport, and we would use a 2-meter long arch to practice, and it involves a series of actions, not just shooting, but also manners, using arch, etc. It was honestly really tiring at first, and pulling the arch felt challenging. But as I learned more about it, I get to feel what they say how kyudo would make people feel calm and find the internal peace. My suggestions to people coming next is that you should definitely try it, and don’t be afraid to talk to sensei even though we’re usually not that confident about our Japanese skills. I guarantee you they’re some of the most nice teachers I’ve ever met.

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.



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.

Nell Di Bona Beck: Calligraphy

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During my time at KCJS I chose to take semi-private shodō, or Japanese calligraphy, classes. My teacher, Tanaka-san, is a professional calligrapher and he guided me during this time. Some of the things I learned was how to position my arms, both the one holding the brush and the one not, how to control the amount of pressure I exerted, how to manipulate the brush to move how I wanted it to, how much ink I needed, and most importantly to never stop the flow of the brush as it glided across the paper. There is a lot more to the world of shodō than simply painting the characters, you must write with intention and meaning. The type of brush you use, the style of writing, and where you position the characters on the paper are also important in conveying not just the meaning but the feeling to the viewer. I recommend incoming students to put themselves in challenging situations–situations where they will encounter new things, or listen to Japanese above their level, or have to speak to strangers. Tanaka-san communicated with me in broken English and Japanese in order to teach me shodō because he wanted me to learn and no language barrier could change that. As long as you show that you are actively trying and putting effort, there will be people willing to help, and you in turn with grow.

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.

Tyrone Xue: Shakuhachi

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Me (left) and Sam (right) practicing right before our big concert

I took lessons learning the shakuhachi as my CIP. There are different types of shakuhachi playing style, I was learning the Kinko-ryu shakuhachi as it is what my teacher was an expert at. I feel that the shakuhachi is a fairly hard instrument to learn during the start compared to the other traditional instruments like the koto or shamisen, but eventually you get the hang of it. We were invited to play for a concert near the end of our lessons which I felt was an amazing experience, both the pressure and the fun.

If you’re thinking about doing a traditional Japanese instrument, whether it’s shakuhachi, koto, shamisen, or something else, I think you should just go for it. Even if you don’t have any experience in western music because the music sheet and playing method is really different anyways. My best advice is to not go into these lessons to become an expert in the instrument (our shakuhachi teacher himself has decades of experience but he still feels like he has more to learn). Instead, I think it’s best to go into it with the mindset of building human connections. The shakuhachi is one thing, but take some time to ask about the the history, the songs, and the communities. You’ll find yourself learning about a completely new world than just an instrument.

Alejandro Sosa Hernández: Calligraphy

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For my CIP, I took calligraphy lessons at the Shoukei Shoudo School. Once a week, the senseis would teach me how to write a new Kanji character until my skills developed enough for me to choose my own Kanjis. Learning how to do calligraphy was incredibly exciting and it was nice to have a dedicated creative outlet every week where I could practice my Japanese speaking and writing. It was perfect for me since I’ve always loved cursive writing, I think Kanji are beautiful, and I am quite the perfectionist. My advice to incoming students would be to not be afraid of asking for help! That’s what the senseis are there for.

Jayden Fedoroff: Volunteering at Bazaar Cafe

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For my CIP, I volunteered at the Bazaar Cafe, which is right down the road from Doshisha University. The volunteer work consisted of primarily helping out in the kitchen. I would wash dishes, clean up the kitchen, and during down time, I would chat with the other volunteers and customers.

I thought that volunteering at the Bazaar Cafe was very fun! The volunteers and staff are incredibly friendly and the atmosphere was very laid back. Some of the days, the cafe was very busy, and during those times I had to wash a lot of dishes and there wasn’t as much time for chatting. However, when the cafe became less busy, I was often treated to a free lunch and I got to have some very nice conversations with the other volunteers.

I would highly recommend this CIP to students that really want to practice speaking casual Japanese (and Kansai-ben.) The volunteers are very laid back and kind, so they’re very easy to talk to. However, I would recommend also checking what the available times are for volunteering. I volunteered on Wednesdays from 12-2PM, which is when the cafe would occasionally become busy. If you would prefer a time that is less busy, I would recommend volunteering in the afternoons (around 2-4PM.) They are also very accommodating, so if you can’t come in during your usual time, if you let them know in advance, you can just come in the following week or reschedule for another time that week.

Santiago Chamorro: Volunteering at St. Maria’s Children’s Dining Room

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For my CIP, I volunteered at St. Maria’s Church to help its members set up and manage a dining room for children. This activity mostly consisted of helping prepare food, setting up tables, and interacting with the children that come to visit. This CIP is filled with kind and patient volunteers who helped me with my tasks, and allowed for me to practice Japanese through conversations we had while working. The children are also great. They are energetic and very nice, and although the speed at which they speak may be a challenge, they always  cheered me up with every visit. Apart from preparing the food, you also get to share a meal with the volunteers and children, which gave me a great experience to enjoy some homemade Japanese food and to practice Japanese with the people I sat with. In this CIP I not only got to practice my speaking in a very active environment, but I also got a deeper understanding of this small sect of Japanese society. For anyone interested in this CIP, I recommend to be ready to interact with children and adults, and to communicate in a bit of a busy environment. It can be a little challenging at times, but it is very fun!

Meraly Morales – Volunteering at Bazaar Cafe

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The Bazaar Cafe’s mission is to create and provide a safe space for people who are part of minority groups (sexuality, religion, age, nationality, etc.) by giving them a space to express and share their values. The people who work at the Bazaar cafe are often those who are unable to find employment in other places, due to various prejudicial reasons. Through volunteering at the Bazaar Cafe, I have met amazing people with different walks of life that have all been very accepting and interested in my individual ideas and values. By listening to their discussions about the cafe’s next steps (which include an effort to reduce the distance between college students and conversations about alcohol-related issues) at the beginning of the semester and then manually helping in the kitchen during the second half of the semester, I have been able to connect with a lot of the staff, and felt like I have contributed to the work done in the kitchen of this small but mighty cafe. Before beginning my CIP time at the Bazaar Cafe, I was warned to not be shy and instead be open to talking at the cafe. As someone who is nervous to speak in Japanese to Japanese people in fear of making mistakes, I also advise anyone who decides to volunteer at the Bazaar Cafe in the future to allow yourself to try and be open to expressing yourself. The cafe became a place where I could practice the language with locals without fear of judgment.