MY LIFE AND TIMES IN JAPAN

Recently, I went to Osaka to watch Elliott Yamin perform at Osaka Billboard Live!  Elliott Yamin rose to fame during the 5th season of American Idol in which he placed third in the popular American singing contest.  His self-titled album, released in March 2007, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Independent Albums chart and at No. 3 on the Billboard 200.  The album was certified gold in the United States in October 2007.  Retitled Wait for You, the album was released in Japan in May 2008 and certified gold here in September 2008.  The 5th season was the first that American Idol aired in Japan and was also the first season I ever watched the show... and I have to admit, I became hooked.  Whether because Japanese television is limited in good variety, or because singing is so popular in Japan, I found myself tuning in to popular culture every week rooting for Yamin, clearly the most gifted singer from the 5th season.  After Elliott Yamin's debut album, he recently released his sophomore album, titled Fight for Love in May 2009.  His single You Say is currently the #1 R&B single in Japan.  After the concert, I had a chance to meet him and wish him luck in the future...  I also invited him to karaoke after the show, but after back-to-back concerts on consecutive nights he kindly declined...  either he was too tired, or didn't want to go head-to-head with my skeelz...    I'm thinking the latter as well... 

Note:  A link to: Elliott Yamin's Official Japanese website 

 

 

The 2009 World Baseball Classic (W.B.C.) is over and Japan has won again beating their Asian rivals and Beijing Olympic champions South Korea for their second consecutive W.B.C. championship!  Watching this game on television with the entire country of Japan, I could feel the tension mounting as Japan stranded several runners in scoring position and clung to one run lead heading into the bottom of the ninth inning.  With only a one run lead and a 22 year old young pitching superstar Yu Darvish coming into the game to close it out, I had a feeling there was more drama yet to come...  Darvish looking shaky under the immense pressure walked two batters and gave up the tying run before finally retiring the side providing extra innings for Korea.  As Japan came up to bat in the top of the tenth tied with Korea 3-3, a script that could only be written by the Japanese baseball gods was being played out.  With two outs and runners on second and third, Japan's favorite son, Ichiro Suzuki came to the plate with the weight of an entire nation's hopes and dreams on his shoulders...  Having been in this position before, as expectations were high as the first Japanese position player to ever play in the Major Leagues, Ichiro responded in 2001 by becoming the American League's Most Valuable Player, the Rookie of the Year, winning the Batting Championship, and a Gold Glove all in his first year with the Seattle Mariners!  And on this final day of W.B.C. baseball at the age of 35, Ichiro added to his legend in Japan and to his Cooperstown Hall of Fame induction resume by coming through in the absolute clutch lacing a hit up the middle scoring two and giving Japan a 5-3 lead, good enough to capture its second W.B.C. championship!

 

Last Saturday morning was the graduation ceremony at Tomida Kindergarten and it marked my third year of teaching at the school.  As I've written before, teaching English at the kindergarten is a very rewarding feeling knowing I'm probably their first English teacher and what they carry onto elementary school is from our lessons together.  Tomida Kindergarten is a unique private school which incorporates regular English classes for its students, an important skill necessary earlier than ever before.  Recently in Japan, the government has finally taken measures in order to adopt English language education more formally at the elementary school level.  Beginning officially in April of 2011 and in Tokushima City this year, English will be officially recognized as a subject for 5th and 6th grade students, requiring schools to administer 35 periods a year.  Previously, English was often incorporated into Integrated Studies periods as a component of "International Understanding," but this relaxed education policy will soon change.  The focus of the new English curriculum guidelines will focus on speaking and listening only, in order to ease the burden on junior high school teachers who previously had to teach all four components of the foreign language from a beginning foundation.

 

      

Recently I received news that Hiroaki, my student attending Bunri High School in Tokushima passed Kyoto University's entrance examination!  Kyoto University is the second oldest university in Japan and is ranked among the top 25 universities in the word and is considered the Yale of Japan, it follows only Tokyo University as the most prestigious university in the country.  Tokyo and Kyoto University were once imperial universities, which trained Japan's leaders before the war.  The competition to enter the top public universities in Japan is cut-throat, tests results mean everything.  Students applying to national public universities take two entrance examinations, first a nationally administered standardized achievement test and then an examination administered by the university that the student hopes to enter - not easy.  Some national public schools have so many applicants that they use the first test as a screening device for qualification to take their own admissions test.  Such intense competition means that many bright students fail for admission to the college of their choice.  An unsuccessful student can either accept admission elsewhere, forego a college education, or wait until the following spring to take the test again. A large number of students choose the last option. These students are called ronin, meaning a masterless samurai - then spend an entire year, and sometimes longer, cramming for another shot at their dream university.  A painstaking, life holding decision in which every day is in preparation for another chance to start their lives.

 

                             me & Hiroaki

This past Sunday, I was back at work in preparation for the 2012 London Olympics as I ran in the Yoshinogawa Riverside 10K starting in the rural town of Kamojima, Tokushima.  Having already completed my first half-marathon recently, I decided to hang-with the amateurs today and show them a thing or two about running...  including, how I like to run with an Ipod and the cool new running shoes I recently bought...  The Yoshinogawa is the second longest river on Shikoku Island, it's 194 km long and spans across all four prefectures on the Island.  It is regarded as one of the three greatest rivers of Japan along with the Tone and the Chikugo, and is nicknamed Shikoku Saburō (Saburō is a popular name given to third sons in Japan).  This scenic run along the Yoshinogawa River captures the beauty of Japan's country-side, as mountains and farms can be seen in every direction.  On this sunny morning, I ran a personal best just under 1-hour in a time of 59:35!  Good enough to capture first among foreigners competing (unofficially) - I only saw two other visible foreigners in the race and they finished behind me!  #1 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today is an important day in Tibetan history, 50 years ago on March 10, 1959, thousands of Tibetans stood up and protested the illegal occupation of their country. And as a result, they were brutally killed by the Chinese military. This day has now come to be remembered as Tibetan Uprising Day. On March 10th, Tibetans and its supporters from around the world gather to commemorate the lives of the over 87,000 who died voicing their opposition to Chinese forced assimilation. On this day, we remember the brutal atrocities of the past, while protesting the ongoing human rights violations and cultural genocide of the present. Over 1.2 million Tibetans have died as a direct result of China's illegal occupation.  The reality today is China has never been held accountable for its atrocities of the past and continues aggressions to silence Tibetans today, most notably last year in the lead up to the Beijing Olympics.  Days following the 49th anniversary, Tibetans living under the oppression of the Chinese rose up again, resulting in over 200 hundred Tibetan deaths, over 1000 injured, with several thousands arrested, detained or missing.  However, their actions were not in vain as it once again exposed the brutality of the Chinese government at a time when the world was watching.  The lead up to the Olympics saw people from all over the world protest the Beijing Olympic torch run for Tibetans and human rights, resulting in several detours and world media attention.  Several world leaders applied pressure on the Chinese government, resulting in false promises of honest dialogue with Tibetan leaders.  The Chinese government managed to weather the Olympic storm last year and today their determination to prevent another is clear.  Today, thousands of military convoys patrol the streets in Tibet's capitol, authorities have imposed a security lockdown, tourists and international media have been barred.  It will no doubt be an immediate death sentence behind very tightly closed doors for Tibetans who dare to speak their minds in protest on this day.  However, no number of armed soldiers will ever be able to silence the spirit and determination of all Tibetans around the world!  FREE TIBET!    

 

Note: In 2006 I did a presentation commemorating Tibetan Uprising Day in Japan.  Check it out below!  If you would like to see this video translated in Japanese. Click this link: COMMEMORATING "TIBETAN UPRISING DAY" IN JAPAN (IN JAPANESE)

Recently I ran in the 63rd Anniversary Marugame International Half-Marathon in the small rural town of Marugame, Kagawa located 2-hours north of Tokushima.  With a population of 110,000 - Marugame hosts an annual marathon with over 7000 participants, including international running stars such as Kenya's Mekubo Mogusu, Britain's Mara Yamauchi, and myself from the United States.  Mogusu and Yamauchi won this year's men's and women's division, respectively - and I followed about 90 minutes behind them in a time of 2 hours and 33 minutes.  After starting even with the Kenyan superstar, I quickly found myself trailing him, several senior citizens, and every tank top and short shorts wearing runner in the winter conditions.  Although I've run in several 10ks in the past, this was my first attempt at running 21km (13 miles) and after finishing it may be my last...  This was by far the most professional running event I've taken part in to date.  With the start and finish line beginning and ending at the local stadium, this event was extremely well organized.  Running along the streets of Marugame to the cheers of thousands of supporters and local Taiko drummers was a motivating feeling, every bit necessary in order to finish the full 21k...  Prior to the run, I had doubts whether I could finish the race within the 3-hour limit, but I'm happy to report "YES, I CAN!" - just barely... 

 

Note:  For the full translation of Barack's Obama's Inaugural Speech in Japanese visit the following link!

http://www.iknow.co.jp/lists/45380

   

In Japan the most important and elaborate holiday is Oshogatsu - the celebration of the New Year!  During Oshogatsu, making a new year's visit to a shrine or temple in order to pray for a prosperous new year is Japanese tradition.  Typically, most Japanese will pay their respects on any day from January 1 - 3, which are usually holidays in Japan.  In the past, I've visited Oasahiko-jinja (shrine) and Yakuou-ji (temple), Tokushima's most popular shrine and temple for celebrating Oshogatsu.  However, there is no comparison to visiting the massively popular Meiji-jingu (shrine) in Harajuku and Senso-ji (temple) in Asakusa during Tokyo's Oshogatsu!  As you can imagine the lines were extremely long at both historic places and it took forever to get to through...  but worth the wait!  Check out my Tokyo Oshogatsu video below and my picutres in my Tokyo album! 

 

Meiji-jingu (shrine) is located in Harajuku, Tokyo.  It is the Shinto shrine dedicated to the spirits of Emperor Meiji and his wife, Empress Shoken.  After the Emperor Meiji died in 1912 and Empress Shōken in 1914, the Japanese people wished to pay their respects to the two influential Japanese figures.  Thus, Meiji-jingu (shrine) was constructed and their souls enshrined on November 1, 1920.  Over 3-million people a year visit the shrine during the 3-day holiday from January 1 - 3!

Asakusa is a district in Taito, Tokyo, most famous for the Senso-ji (temple), a Buddhist temple dedicated to the Bodhisattva Kannon - it is Tokyo's oldest temple, and one of its most significant.  The outer of the two entrance gates is the Kaminarimon ("Thunder Gate"), this Buddhist structure features a massive paper lantern dramatically painted in vivid red-and-black tones to suggest thunderclouds and lightning.  Beyond the Kaminarimon is Nakamise-dori with its numerous shops.  There are various opinions about the origin of the name of Asakusa.  Many believe it originates from the Tibetan word "Arsha-kusha" (meaning the place for a saint). 

         

Recently, I returned to Tokushima from a 2-night trip to Tokyo in order to ring in the new year in style!  This trip included several events, including a visit to Tokyo's most famous shrine and temple!  As for Meiji-jingu and Senso-ji in Asakusa, I'll save that experience for a separate blog and focus on New Year's Eve for now.  New Year's was great!  Although counting down to the new year in Japan is not common, there are no shortages of countdown events in a city with over 12 million people, including nearly 400,000 foreigners.  During the day I strolled around Shibuya - known as one of the fashion centers of Japan, particularly for young people, and as a major nightlife area.  Shibuya is often considered the Times Square of Japan and is famous for its hectic intersection crossing.  In the evening I went to an early show at Tokyo Billboard Live, a classy concert hall located in Tokyo Midtown to see Arrested Development.  I like the genre, but not a super big fan of Arrested Development - really just wanted to check out Tokyo Billboard Live regardless of who was performing...  as for the concert, it was great!..  Arrested Development can still rock and every seat in the house was good!..  Afterwards, it was back to Shibuya to count it down at Vuenos Tokyo and onto Rappongi for after-hours!..  Good times!..  Check out all my pics in my Tokyo picture album and also my New Year's video below!  Happy New Year to all my friends and family back home! 

 

         

 

 

             Elizabeth, me, and Nima in Chinatown