「KCJS 36 (2024-2025)」カテゴリーアーカイブ

Emmett Young: Volunteering at Mitsuba Kindergarten

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This semester for my Community Involvement Project I volunteered at a local kindergarten by the name of Mitsuba where I was essentially hanging out with the kindergarteners there for a couple hours each week. This experience was really fun overall and was actually my first ever time working with kids of such a young age which is ironic given the fact that it was in Japan where a language barrier at some times was very prominent. Regardless, it was an experience that led to a lot of personal growth in learning how to interact with and become familiar with people without always being able to communicate what I hope to say. My advice for incoming students is to honestly do things that you haven’t done before. It sounds generic though when you do things that are not only new to yourself, but you’re also experiencing a language barrier at the same time, it teaches you a lot about how to handle those extremely foreign situations. Then as you get more comfortable with whatever you are doing, the feeling of gratitude is magnified. 

Ayub Nur: Shamisen

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This fall, my CIP was learning the shamisen. The Shamisen is a traditional Japanese stringed instrument: it’s almost built like a banjo and you’ll quite often see it in the hands of a Geisha.

I was lucky enough to learn under Iwasaki Chieko-sensei and Iwasaki Yumi-sensei, who are both in the attached video. Though I just as much have to thank the many others at the company who taught me too. By the time I was ready to perform, it felt much more like I joined a family than just a music group.

My greatest piece of advice that I can offer is, if you’re interested in playing traditional Japanese music, do so with Iwasaki-sensei and tell everyone I said hi. Jokes aside, the learning curve of always speaking a new language is harsh and I’m grateful that I could lean on playing music all throughout the semester. More than just that, I’m glad that I had a final performance that I was building up towards to make sure that I came to practice whether I was feeling able or not. Coming in every week is what truly made my Japanese and music better. The genuine best advice I can offer is, studying abroad is draining so have a project that you can feel your progress in to keep your spirits high.

Robert Xing: Kyudo

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For my CIP this semester, I chose to take lessons in Kyudo, the traditional martial art of archery. I had practices at the Kyoto City Budo Center once or twice a week, and I was instructed by Furuya-sensei, a very kind teacher who has taught KCJS students in the past as well. I have actually been interested in Kyudo for a long time, and I’ve done archery before at a club at my home university, but as Kyudo is a very different kind of activity, I wanted to really learn it from the ground up while I had the rare chance to here in Kyoto. Kyudo is different from regular archery primarily in its objective. Rather than focusing on the particular result of hitting a target accurately, Kyudo emphasizes the form of the process itself, from stepping into the range to drawing the bow and everything in between. The idea is that the shooter focuses not on hitting the target, but completes every defined movement naturally and beautifully with an empty mind, and thus the arrow will always strike its target as a byproduct of one’s consistent efforts. I had an incredible time learning this difficult but rewarding art, and I would encourage anyone even remotely interested to give it a shot. A piece of advice I would give to beginners would be to not go into it with any expectations of yourself, as regardless of your previous experience with archery or other martial arts, you will almost certainly have to learn everything from the ground up, as there are just so many minute details about Kyudo. But should you be willing to fail over and over again until your body has remembered every specific movement and posture, I can guarantee that the feeling of gratification you’ll get when you finally hit the target is like no other.

Camille Chang: Volunteering at the Kyoto Museum of Crafts and Design

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My CIP was volunteering as an interpreter at the Kyoto Museum of Crafts and Design. I met with many craftspeople giving demonstrations at the museum, and translated their explanations of their crafts to English-speaking visitors, and any questions that a visitor might have, into Japanese.

I am an art history major, and I have always had an interest in traditional crafts and folk art, so I wanted to develop more familiarity with the world of Japanese crafts and use my Japanese to do so.  I had to switch back and forth between English and Japanese, which turned out to be easier than I thought it would be. The act of interpreting across languages made it easier for me to connect the two cultures that I had to fuse as well. Shaking off habits I had in the U.S. to better fit my lifestyle in Japan, I also found that my Japanese and English also ebbed and flowed to fit each other’s existence in my brain (if that makes sense lol). By using so much Japanese, my English has also changed! This process also taught me a lot about Japanese work culture. I was essentially doing a part-time job at a Japanese museum, and I loved getting to know my coworkers and even translate a few wall labels into English for lacquerware exhibits.

I am super grateful to have had this opportunity while in Kyoto. While volunteering was difficult at times, it gave me a great opportunity to learn more about crafts, meet artisans who have made craft their life, and use my language skills to connect people from across the world.

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.

Jason Gonzalez: Kyokushin Karate

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(Edited image as I could not post a photo of the dojo itself)

Kyokushin Karate is a full-body contact sport (advanced training/real matches will involve you getting hit) pioneered by Masutatsu Oyama, which focuses on how gracefully your movements flow into one another but also on the power of your strikes. Moves include punches and kicks, along with blocks/deflects, prioritizing a strong body and sharp mind rather than utilizing evasive tactics.

The sensei was understanding given that it was my first time doing karate and it took me a few weeks (1 practice a week) to learn the basics, and I found that the dojo is considered a sacred but welcoming place with students from all walks of life gathered for the purpose of learning. I chose this activity to supplement my workout routine and to challenge myself in a　completely new environment (karate in Japan) which normally requires you to pay close attention and listen to the instructor to do techniques correctly, but now I had to learn new Japanese phrases as well to follow along.

I have several pieces of advice, the first being to practice what you learned on your own time, even for just a bit. Returning to the dojo can be the hardest part as you don’t want to make the same mistakes as before, so practice the basics on your own time to iron out the form and be ready for the upcoming lesson. Here’s a useful link for the basics: (https://youtu.be/2_PRuRqbSLo?feature=shared)
REMEMBER, stretch first. Secondly, learn how to tie your dogi properly, it’s a sign of how prepared you really are, and it prevents your dogi from interfering with your movement. Thirdly, remember that the only way you will improve is to keep trying. You cannot give up midway as that not only stops your progress but, if you are practicing with other students, you will end up getting in their way. I only went to practice once a week, so it took me about 3 to 4 weeks to get most of the basics down. If it takes time for you to learn, don’t worry. Lastly, you should know what is expected. From my experience the positions can be a bit strenuous if you’re not flexible or not used to moving in a controlled motion and then holding a certain position for some time. For example, stretching at one point includes leg splits (no need to go all the way), and for many of the strikes you have to place your feet inward with one foot slightly in front. I’ve been running so I was not out of breath, but it would be a good idea to work on your body condition and balance. I did not know before starting that beginner lessons were more or less just practicing form and strikes, while the sparring lessons were their own class. If you want to spar, I recommend fixing your form first. When you decide to attend the sparring class, be ready to spend a decent amount on required assist/protection, and to get hit. Most lessons that would pertain to you occur in the afternoon, mine was around 8pm. If you can dedicate time, effort, and passion to learn this martial art, I recommend doing so.

 

Judson Buchko: Teaching Assistant at Ohara Gakuin

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My CIP was as a English teaching assistant at Ohara Gakuin, a 1st-9th grade regional school just outside of Kyoto in the sleepy town of Ohara. I assisted the English teachers there along with my fellow KCJS student Sebastian as an English conversation partner with the students, as well as assisting in class lessons by providing a native perspective and native fluency. Ohara is a beautiful little town located in the northern mountains behind Kyoto, and every time I took the bus up there each week, I was astounded once again without fail of its natural beauty. The students there were very kind, and were very patient with my not-yet-fluent Japanese skills, and I ended up making a few connections that, I think, will be important memories for these students as they grow up– reminding them that there are friends and connections to be made with people regardless of their home country, language, appearance, et cetera. To incoming students, I would say that while you’re in Japan, try and engross yourself at least in some way in the everyday lives of Japanese people. Try to get outside of the 留学生 bubble at least a little bit, and immerse yourself, even if it’s hard, as putting yourself in something like a school setting, or a workplace setting, really helps you gain some valuable and unique cultural perspective on the everyday culture and activities of real Japanese people.

Anna Trapani: Volunteering at Nagaoka-kyo Children’s Center

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For my CIP I chose to volunteer at an after-school children’s center that was near my homestay. The kids were elementary to middle schoolers, and I got to play games with them, help with homework, practice my Japanese, and learn about what childhood is like in Japan. It was an amazing experience that really made me feel like a part of the community. The memories I made with the children and the staff members will be forever very special to me. For those who are not the best at putting themselves out there in the social setting, I really recommend 1. volunteer activities, because they give you a sense of purpose, and/or 2. working with kids, since they will immediately take a liking to you. For those who do chose a similar CIP, I recommend getting to know some Japanese names for games beforehand and teaching the children games you used to play, too!

Anna Yan: Volunteering at 聖マリア幼稚園　 子ども食堂 (Kodomo Shokudō)

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At Kodomo Shokudō, I volunteer to help create a welcoming space where children and families can enjoy meals together. My main tasks include assisting with meal preparation and cleanup and interacting with children to build connections and learn more about Japanese culture.

This experience has taught me the importance of communication and adaptability in cross-cultural settings. Engaging with the children has been a highlight, helping me understand Japanese values like politeness and community through their actions. Plus, the food is really good – it’s always a treat to enjoy the delicious and balanced meals prepared here.

Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and engage with others, even if your Japanese isn’t perfect. Small efforts, like asking questions or sharing activities, go a long way in building meaningful connections. 

 

Jessica Sun: Sadou

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My CIP activity was sadou (茶道) at Wabichakai, taught by Fujimura-sensei. Sadou is basically the Japanese traditional etiquette of preparing, making, serving, and consuming matcha.

I was interested in sadou because I didn’t know much about anything related to the history or culture of tea in Japan. I also was looking for something that was very traditional and hard to learn outside of Japan, or even Kyoto. Therefore, I think this was a great choice because I think the experience definitely embodied a very traditional and Kyoto-style environment. You will observe and learn how to fold the handkerchief properly, clean and prepare the materials, whisk the matcha, and drink the matcha. There are also other elements, such as meditation and eating wagashi (Japanese confectionery).

Overall, I would recommend this CIP if you are interested in a very traditional and culture/history/religion heavy topic. The lessons do consist a lot of the sensei just talking, so I do recommend it more for those with higher listening proficiency. Also, because of how much time the sensei spends explaining the background or anecdotal stories, the time to actually do the activity hands-on is less, which led to slow progression, in my opinion. However, I still enjoyed the experience, and I bought the whisk, handkerchief, and other materials, so I think it’s something I will definitely continue to do on my own when I go back to the US. Overall, I think it was really unique and not something I could’ve done elsewhere!