Tag Archives: Japan

Hokkaido: The Winter Festival

Sapporo, Japan.

The first weekend in February is reserved for Yuki Matsuri, the Snow Festival.  In Japan’s snowy northern island of Hokkaido, this iconic celebration of winter has garnered world attention, including mine for a short visit two years ago.

Extraordinary ice and snow sculptures celebrate various stories, cartoons, movies, and other forms of art, sometimes being original pieces.  Apart from that, the heavy annual snow accumulation makes Sapporo a world-class ski and snowboarding destination – and I took advantage.

I share this on my blog to make the special case to anyone who is able to make an effort to see this city, and perhaps this festival, once in your life.  Theses are the photos from that unforgettable trip.

Property of Gregory A Nasif

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President Obama and Understanding Japan

“Don’t use ‘sure,’” my regional manager advised me. “Use, ‘I understand.’”

Once upon a time, the regional manager at my former employer paid her monthly visit to our branch. Her goal this time was to try to improve struggling relations between my direct superior and me. Apparently, one of the problems was how I was answering the managers’ directives. “Japanese like, ‘understand.’ Do you understand?”

“Yes” I lied. Now, nearly two years later, I think I finally do understand.

U.S. President Barack Obama and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at the White House, April 28, 2015. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File Photo (source)

U.S. President Barack Obama and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at the White House, April 28, 2015. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File Photo (source)

This week, for the first time, a sitting American President will visit one of the two Japanese cities obliterated by an atomic bomb. President Obama arrives in Japan on Wednesday for a meeting of the G7 nations, and the White House announced Hiroshima will be on the itinerary shortly thereafter. The President plans to pay respects at Hiroshima’s peace memorial and deliver remarks.

The news mentions ‘critics.’ There don’t seem to be any big names coming down on the president – yet. They needn’t hold their breath. President Obama is making the right decision, and he will be welcomed in Hiroshima as he was long awaited: with an incredible grace and patience unique to the Japanese people.

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That Weekend in Nagano, As Evidenced by iPhone Notes

Though it has spent a year tumbling around in my head, everything in this post is entirely true.

Hakuba, Nagano.

Hakuba, Nagano.

I’ve got to write a blog post about this weekend I thought, watching Yuu Koyama steal fried chicken off his father’s plate.

It was breakfast on Sunday morning.  Yuu Koyama was disrupting the cold, silent and nearly empty hall with casual English cursing that his father only vaguely recognized.  He was taunting his father by eating his food and moving his plates away from him.  It was December 21st, 2014.

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Transitioning to Japanese Kindergarten

I teach in many schools.

Specifically, Japanese private kindergartens.  Young kids rarely learn anything their usual Japanese Sensei doesn’t already know.  However, Japanese school officials acknowledge that many adults are far too timid with gaijin (foreigners).  They believe exposing young children to foreigners will help them embrace English learning throughout their lives.

Since I am legally forbidden from sharing pictures of my students, here is a picture of another Japanese Kindergarten class from the Wall Street Journal.

Since I am legally forbidden from sharing pictures of my students, here is a picture of another Japanese Kindergarten class from the Wall Street Journal.

The schools I teach in are spread throughout the metropolitan area of Osaka, Japan’s second largest city. In Japan, Kindergarten includes a compulsory form of what the western world understands as optional “Pre-K,” and has three levels: the three to four-year-old “Nensho,” the four to five-year-old “Nenchu,” and the five to six-year-old “Nencho.”

Starting this job was frightening for me, although frightening was an improvement. Thanks to some chats I had with encouraging people at the right time, I felt reassured that I was capable of fulfilling my requirements. No longer quite petrified, I was still confused by the young children and nervous about making mistakes. I didn’t understand them.

It was the unknown and I was scared. Having conquered the last transition, I was ready to try.

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One at a Time

I wanted to title this essay “How my Crude, Cynical, Obtuse, Straight Japanese Friend Gives me Hope about the Future of LGBT Rights in Japan,” but in the spirit of progress, this message sent by text to a friend (with a more colorful word after “one”) seemed more fitting.

With the arrival of marriage equality in the United States, perhaps the moment is timely to talk about the gay rights movement in Japan, or lack thereof.

Pride Month Celebrations began in 2010 in Japan.

Pride Month Celebrations began in 2010 in Japan. Source

Well, it exists.  But it’s in its infancy.

While they don’t experience the open persecution seen in Russia, the Middle East, and parts of Africa, LGBT people in Japan are locked in the prison of strict social customs. Most gay men in Japan seem to either be foreigners or partially to completely in the closet, which is why I’ve had to change their names in this post. They probably have a long way to go in an isolated, patriarchal society where older people hold all the keys over a submissive youth.

But the tide will turn, and I know that because of Yuu Koyama.

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