June 2010

Hyogo Times Hyogo Kimono 101 Dating the Yakuza HTHong Kong Ramen HYOGO TIMES Contents MESSAGE FROm THE EDITORS June 2010 Messages Week. Need some new digs and lesson plans? Go tra- from the Editors ...... 3 Dear faithful Hyogo Times fans, ditional and work the kimono as suggested by Raena and try out a new activity provided by Matt. You HT Online...... 4 should wear a kimono while teaching! It’s already summer! I hope from the PR...... 5 you are enjoying every minute We also reminisce about the awesome events we have of 2010. For those not-so-won- organized and participated in like the Hyogo PEPY derful moments please read ride, the Tigers game, and the Kobe festival. Be sure Regular Features and enjoy this issue. I am sure to check out the amazing photography by Jaclyn and it will cheer you up! Awaji Dispatch ...... 6 Noelle. Book Discoveries...... 7 For a good chuckle read Paul’s Please enjoy all we have to offer and if you have great riddle. Feeling bored? Love and Relationships...... 8 anything to offer us our Hyogo Times hands are wide Pick up a new book and/or movie recommended by open. Japanese Riddle of the Month. . . 9 JJ and Caitlin. Need a new adventure? Try Lauren’s travel tips for Tokyo or be lured to Awaji by Jonathan Ever genki, Maigo in Hyogo...... 9 with his love for pinsuyaki. For those who seek adven- Culture: Kimono 101...... 10 ture in love, Rika has the scoop on dating the Yakuza. 14 Photography...... 12 Are your taste buds craving and not raving? Be a pal Epi to your buds, try Travis’ delectable dishes or noodle Travel Japan...... 14 through Hong Kong like Andrew did this past Golden Getting to know Random JETs. . 24 I Heart T-Points ...... 26 Dear Hyogo, Then, last week, classes were cancelled for ‘too much Ramentary ...... 28 rain.’ As much as I enjoy gazing upon the overfilled Recipe: Madeleines...... 29 I’m not obsessed with the weather, really, I’m not. rivers, the verdant green of the well-fed mountain- It’s just that I live in what amounts to a very sturdy side foliage, and free time at my desk without inter- English Sensei Spirit ...... 30 tent, and I have to walk to and wait on buses, and the net, I’m not sure how to feel about this impending weather gets into my life. Also, I am turning Japanese, rainy season. and must open any correspondence with my reflec- Features tion on the current season. I hope you are without roof leaks or window issues. 40th Kobe Matsuri...... 16 But outside of that, I find myself wondering what “It’s hot, isn’t it!” said the checkout lady at JUSCO as I there is to do. My best guess is to reach for a good Inside JET...... 18 counted my coins. A week ago, everyone was saying book (see page 9 ) or rent a few good movies (page 27), “It’s cold!” I missed out on the “It’s pleasantly cool, or just kick back and read the Times. On those rare A Perfect Day for PEPY...... 20 don’t you think?” and the “It’s getting warm at last!” days of sunshine, be sure to get your doses of both 18 “Yeah, it feels like summer,” I stated, which was true. exploration/travel and vitamin D. Focus on This Play, This Moment. . . .22 She agreed, then took it back. Far as I can see, it’s already begun. But that’s enabled Hyogo Times Staff “No.. first comes the rain. Then it will be summer.” me to spend some time chilling out at home or in my Editors: Esperanza Urbaez All JETs in Hyogo are The rain? work desk, just editing articles, happy as a little snail and Emily Lemmon encouraged to send in munching on someone’s garden plants. Design Editor: articles, musings, poetry, I have been told that Japan has four seasons (no, re- Jaclyn Threadgill prose and any ideas to ally). Others have said five. “The month of June has a Speaking of which… If anyone knows a way to deter Cover: Esperanza Urbaez improve the Hyogo Times lot of rain,” my VP told me (in English). “I don’t like it those little buggers, please write in and let me know. for the betterment of the Contributors: because the floors get all wet and dirty.” I am overcome with murderous rage and the desire Jonathan Cooper, Caitlin Orr, Hyogo JET community. to CRUSH SNAIL every time I peel one off my pathetic Rika Sawatsky, Paul Schuble, My first thoughts when three straight days of rain little garden. Murderous rage can’t be a healthy thing Raena Mina, Noelle Hollister, Submit by the 15th of each to feel so frequently, even (especially?) in a month full month to: publications@ last August had my VP calling my house and telling Lauren McRae, Anipare, Shellie me to stay home from some of my first days of work of rain and short on national holidays. がまんしよう！ Bee, Emma Nicoletti, Ryan Parker, hyogo ajet. net. were, isn’t there a whole rainy season? How does three Len Krygsman IV, Eric Lord, Lydia days of rain wreak this much havoc? Assuredly, Eberly, Alvin Q T. . Tran, Travis Love, http://hyogoajet .net/ J J Cappa, Andrew Tamashiro, wiki/Hyogo_Times Matthew Stott, Alvin Tran Lemmon 16 We’re also on Facebook! 2 • Hyogo Times • June 2010 3 HT ONLINE MESSAGE FROm THE PR

nese people, or other foreign Sarah is playing with Nara. Hi. types around here. Will you You can/ should go as a specta- email us? If you want to, please tor), and on the same July 4th Goran gave me and Sarah be able to send a link, easy as email us, participate freely. weekend there is this beach Lewis a nice welcome to the Letter from the that. Blogs will be able to link party in Tottori that people PR seat last month, but I’d like to or feature our content, and For one thing, we’d like to hear keep saying they are going to Online Editor to note that since then David search engines will pick up our any thoughts you have on im- never do again and maybe they Nam has been added to our ey everyone, I’m Jonathan articles for all to find. Beyond proving the mid-year seminar. never will do it again, or maybe group to complete the Hyogo Shalfi, and I’m the new this, there are a lot of practi- We have some time to prepare they’ll do it next year! Anyway H AJET PR trifecta. Applause, ap- Online Editor for the Hyogo calities which may not be so and present our thoughts in ad- I want to go. plause. Showering applause. Times! As Online Editor I will apparent. The Hyogo Times is vance this year. We’re discuss- be in charge of everything that a great resource in its teaching ing polls, questionnaires and But after that, we’re hosting And, Eric Lord has been given has to do with the web - web- advice, travel columns, recipes, whatever to distribute between our first event ourselves as the title of events coordinator. sites, postings, PDFs, and some etc, so by having all our back is- of, a single place to catch up on us now, but really any input AJET PR people…July 18th, at assorted small stuff. I’d like to sues indexed on a website it’ll what’s going on in other areas, you have is very much valued. Suma Beach, we want to have And, Sarah or Len is the trea- tell you a little about what I’m be easy to find useful informa- and to read articles written by If you have anything to say I re- our own beach party. Please surer, I think. working on and some of the tion. Let’s say you’re looking for JETs all over Japan. The site is ally am interested in hearing it come with us and have fun. changes going on with Hyogo a place to travel to or an idea in its infancy now, and neither so email us or contact us in any There is a Facebook page. Some things seem like they Times and National AJET. for ESS - all you’ll have to do is the name of it nor its format other way with any comments Weren’t you invited? You were don’t really have a concrete click the appropriate category have been decided upon. I’ll or ideas that you have. I just invited. Please buy Sarah a form in the AJET world and Right now, Hyogo Times exists to get a list of the articles you keep you posted. want to put that out there now. watermelon. have yet to be decided or as a PDF file emailed to mem- want. Or do a search. I’ve only whatever. But we would like bers of a group list each month. just started working on the site The new Hyogo Times and Anyway, soon July will be here, Peace out. to, I think, get some more What this means is that few so there’s not much to see now, National AJET sites are still a and there are some pretty involvement and stuff going, people outside the Hyogo JET but I’ll give you an update in while away, but in the mean- cool things I am just going to create a billion positions, and Andrew community are reading it, and next month’s issue. time you can check out the re- list off briefly, Taj Ultimate get Hyogo together more: JETs even some members within designed Hyogo Times page on (teams have been decided. hanging out with JETs, Japa- Brasher aren’t because they don’t have I’d like to stress one thing the wiki (http://www.hyogoa- the time to browse through an though, which is that the new jet.net/wiki/Hyogo_Times) to entire PDF. The Hyogo Times website is not intended to download back issues. Right is full of great articles, stories, replace our current format of now we have issues posted and photos, so it’s a shame producing PDFs. A big part of back to March 2007, but I’ll be that so few people are reading what makes Hyogo Times so uploading a few more soon it. This is why we decided to great is its beautiful layout - courtesy of Jeff Krengel, a for- build a real website for Hyogo the cover art, illustrations and mer Hyogo JET who very nicely Times - Hyogo Times online, page design, which cannot be sent me some old issues he had if you will! There are many transferred to a website. stashed on his computer. benefits which will come out of this. First and foremost, by The second big thing going on Before I go, I’d like to make one having content at an easy to has to do with National AJET. request. Let’s not forget that find and easy to use website, As of now, each prefecture’s the best way to share things is more people will be reading AJET chapter is doing their personally, through the people our paper. Instead of having to own thing with their maga- we know. Make it a goal this read through a PDF, you’ll be zines. That’s why National month to find one person such able to browse quickly through AJET is putting together a sort as a JTE or friend who’s inter- whatever articles strike your of portal website to help JETs ested in reading the Hyogo interest. Or let’s say there’s (and anyone, for that mat- Times, and send them a PDF or an article you’d like to share ter) access content from every a link to the wiki site. It won’t with a friend - this way you’ll publication. It’ll be like a best take more than a minute!

4 • Hyogo Times • June 2010 5 AwBy Jonathanaj “Ruggles”i DIS CoopePAr TCH Book DiscoveBy Caitlinries Orr July’s Reason Awaji Kicks Ass (Festive Edition): will be dry, lifeless… boring. That steak is your mainland baby castella. Where’s the flavor? Where’s the sense of adventure? If, however, you Little, Big are the kind of person who knows how steak is done (and By John Crowley not with A1) you’d be order- t was not so much a book as an magic only just begins there. It ing it rare. Still moving rare. Iatmosphere. I was completely follows the family Drinkwater Rare like pinsuyaki rare. enveloped in the world of this through their lives at Edgewood, novel; sometimes I couldn’t tell with sons and daughters being Don’t call it a lack of patience what was ‘real’ and what was mentioned and then becoming that leads us to undercook our ‘imaginary’. This was until I parents themselves. The home baby castella. We’ve got pa- stopped trying to find a separation itself could have an entire novel tience in abundance. after all, and just marinated in the book. dedicated to describing its eccen- things move at a slower pace It became, in this way, quite an tricities; essentially it is a single on the island. Think of it more existential read. Surrendering the house made up of several differ- as divine inspiration. Like if urge to define what’s “really hap- ently styled homes. It was created pening” and what’s going on in the as an all-in-one masterpiece, with Pinsuyaki Moses came down from Mt graph. One chapter in particular “dream world” was quite provoca- several “front doors” that all merge Rokko with two sheets of metal ummer. The plants are green little cakes that come out of tive and ultimately rewarding as a together to form Edgewood. made me smile. It was titled “The liberally sprinkled with divots. again, the air is starting a thing that looks like a giant reader, you begin to discover that Folding Bedroom” and was just a S We all know what the best to thicken with moisture to takoyaki grill with a lid. But there may not be that large of a I have read up on other reviews few pages long. My assumptions part of baking a cake is, right? a Jello-like consistency, giant they become anything but separation at all. of this book, finding out about the about the chapter titles at this Not the finished product, but point were almost involuntary bugs are being lured back to the boring when they are full of allegories and inspiration for some island by the siren song of 6 the snuck batter- licks during and I quickly imagined a magical hot, custard-y batter. Man oh I must be very forthright: I have of the happenings, but I will leave inch tall Polynesian girls. Yep, the process. It’s the journey, yet to finish this book. I have that to your own discretion if you bedroom that would just fold itself man… pinsuyaki. This batter summer. When a young man’s folks, not the destination! And purposefully set it aside to read a want to discover more within the up at your whim as if to fit into issue doesn’t seem like much fancy lightly turns to thoughts what’s a better leisurely stroll few pages at times when I need to book. Its layers are truly profound Mary Poppin’s purse. If you get to of a distinction, you may be this chapter, I hope you too will of matsuri. than a baby castella filled with immerse myself in simple imagi- – it has been considered by many saying to yourselves. I can’t see pay special attention to what “The hot batter! nation. It was not for any reason authors to be an unsung master- I’m sure matsuri are pretty how something so terrible and other than that I truly didn’t want piece. I think what you most need Folding Bedroom” reveals, as it nice all across this great na- boring can become something this book to end. So, I am stretch- for equipment when it comes to made me smile when I discovered So at your next mainland mat- tion. Various fried foods, so delicious just by adjusting ing it out with me into the months Little, Big is openness, a sense of the magic of a play on words. suri, when you take a bite out goldfish with 6 hour life spans, the cooking time. To you I say ahead, a few pages here and there. awe, and the family tree on the of a baby castella and question Essentially, Little, Big is a book that public intoxication. But y’all please, come dine with me… in Of course, the time will come first page (trust me, this will come the will of a god who would when I will have to set it down in handy). I often flipped back to fills you with a kind of pleasant are missing out on the thing your mind… put such a boring and stupid after its conclusion, but I think find out how people were related longing. For me, it was a yearning that makes matsuri so very treat on the face of the Earth, I may just smile, fulfilled, and to each other, and I suspect that for the magic I sometimes can feel special here on the ‘waj. Pinsu- Let’s say we are going to a just remember that you aren’t turn it back to its cover and start there is an underlying theme to around me, but often remember yaki. It’s like if gushers were a fancy steak restaurant (of that far from a better place. A again. these connections and what plays as being an essential part of my pastry. The way the uncooked which we have no shortage childhood. land of sublime beauty, of sto- out in each character’s’ life, cor- batter explodes to burn the here, but that’s not the point ried history, and of great sum- Little, Big is first and foremost a responding to their heritage. insides of your mouth, the right now). You order a nice fantasy; an epic story that blurs There were so many I appreciated that the book wasn’t mertime matsuri treats. Yes, way the lines are irritatingly Awaji porterhouse with sides the lines wherever it can, perhaps delightful characters to play with a commentary on the loss of in- friends. That place is Awaji. long, the irrational sense of of scalloped potatoes and hol- not always on purpose. It has too; many of them had these really nocence, but rather the manifesta- Where the grass truly is always th tion of these characters accepted pride we Awajians take in our landaise sauced asparagus. been described as a 20 century quirky names like Auberon, Aunt greener and the snacks truly truths in life. If I were in charge signature confection. Yes folks, And you order it well done. fairytale and I do believe it is just Cloud, Smoky, and Daily Alice. are runnier. of the world, I would put Little, You see the waiter flinch, the that. The story follows genera- There is also the sense that noth- pinsuyaki. • Big on my ‘must read’ list. Since other patrons turn up their tions of the Drinkwater family and ing is wasted, there is a purpose Jonathan Ruggles Reporting their connection to their country for each part of the story you this is not the way of the times, I noses. Because really, who or- To put it simply, pinsuyaki home, Edgewood. There are cities, unfold. The book’s layout is also will instead consider it a present is deliberately undercooked ders a fine steak cooked well faeries, love, death, magic, tarot unique, some chapters lasting for to anyone who needs a little more baby castella, those boring done? You’ve just ruined it. It cards, a talking fish…..and the pages and others just a para- sparkle in their life. •

6 • Hyogo Times • June 2010 7 Love and Relationships blonde or brown hair, Hermes bags, Chanel clothes, expensive jew- Japanese elry, and heavy makeup. And, this Dating the ostentatious appearance concealed Maigo in Hyogo Riddle of their overwhelming lack of self- confidence. My friends conjecture the Month that most girls who are attracted to By Paul Schuble the Yakuza are rather insecure to By Rika Sawatsky Yakuza begin with, believing that material have a couple of friends who celebrities and politicians. wealth might give them a much- いつも文句を言っ Iwere involved with the Yakuza needed boost of confidence. True, in the past—one who dated a So, what were these guys like dating the Yakuza helped develop ている動物は何で middle-rank member of an inaka as boyfriends? According to my this façade, but it also exacerbated gang and another who dated one friends, they were “pretty normal,” the women’s insecurities. Because しょうか？ of the higher-ups in Osaka. These although I doubt that designer la- Yakuza girlfriends played no role are some of their memories. bels, five diamond hotels, gourmet in the organization, they were just (いつももんくをいっているど food, lavish parties, and expen- as dispensable as their boyfriends’ ) The women who are not scared sive cars constitute the norma- other possessions. But, they rarely うぶつはなんでしょうか？ off by the fleets of black Rolls tive Japanese relationship. The suffered any physical harm. Shabu- Royces, intricate tattoos, and the Yakuza struggled with ostensibly zake was the only significant threat. Answer and occasional missing fingers quickly conventional social activities as This meant forcibly injecting a girl explanation: become addicted to the Yakuza. well. For example, they had their with heroin so that she would be 牛 (うし, cow) The adrenaline rush of being part own baseball team but could not hooked and therefore unable to of something so risqué, where find other teams that were willing leave the Yakuza. The men would How many licks does it take to get to the center of a So this one is asking “What money overflows and everybody to play against them. Likewise, all keep her around until they could Tootsie Roll pop? No clue? How about this one: Where animal is always complain- shows you the utmost respect, is social events took place at kashikiri put her to use, often in a tradeoff in Hyogo can this World Cup sign be found? Post your ing?” intoxicating. If you date a higher venues because no regular person with an enemy gang. Thus stands answers on the discussion board on the Hyogo Times ranking man, the younger mem- would approach a beach packed the typical Yakuza girlfriend--beau- Facebook Group page. bers will rush forward to greet you In English, cows say “Moo.” with tattoos or an establishment tiful, lonely, and insecure. (addressing you as neesan) and surrounded by formidable cars. In Japanese, they say “もう,” will invariably compete to hold Materialism aside, the Yakuza men So why did my friends decide to “Maigo in Hyogo” needs your photos! Send them to which also happens to be the your purse and bring you a drink. differed from the purportedly weak end their relationships with the [email protected], and type “Maigo in Hyogo” in sound people make when they ippanjin (see last month’s column) Yakuza? Louis Vuitton just didn’t the subject line. groan or complain. The money is not so readily avail- in that they were fearless, powerful, do it for them. Their only futures able now, what with the police chivalrous, commanded respect, in the gang were to become tro- gaining power over the organiza- and took good care of others. The phy wives (if they even lasted that tion, but there was a golden age. sex was also different. Many would long) with all the material wealth Most girlfriends, however, would use drugs to enhance the experi- in the world, but shunned by rather not know what sustained ence, using anything from ecstasy friends, family, and society. We Want Your Stories! this era. In fact, hardly any of the to topical creams, to the point girlfriends asked questions for where sober sex became entirely “But, it was fun while it lasted.” ...and pictures, and opinions, and poems, fear that they might later be inter- unremarkable. My friend told me and artwork, and essays, and.... rogated by police. They were bliss- she found her following normal Next month: My experience fully ignorant of where the money relationship boring, but then again with Goukon—Japanese speed- came from and simply enjoyed she “had had enough sex to last a blind dating the haute couture it provided. If lifetime.” • they were to make a guess, these Do you have any questions you boyfriends worked as protectors And what were the other girlfriends want addressed regarding love of izakayas, pimps, drug dealers like? With this kind of power & relationships with a Japanese (even though drugs were techni- unfortunately came loneliness and person? Send them to rika. cally cause for dismissal), organiz- isolation, so most Yakuza girlfriends [email protected] to have Submit by the 20th of each month to: ers of major money transfers, and had only each other as friends. them answered by Japanese the support behind the rise of They were identifiable by their people in next month’s column. [email protected]

8 • Hyogo Times • June 2010 9 CULTURE

KI MO N O 101 Obi musubi (tying the sash) is an art sheet inserted into the naga hot to wear a naga jyuban. There is therefore much easier to tie, with form, like doing grand scale origami jyuban collar to make it stiff; even summer obi; usually a thin, airy the end part pre folded. It can usu- with heavy, thick, silk tapestry on a important for the shape at weave. Many girls like to use han-haba ally be tied in the basic drum-like live person. During my kistuke (着付 the nape of the neck obi – half the width, simpler and less O-taiko musubi lessons, many ladies practice hard bulky, more relaxing and quite cute. け) o korin belt - thin elastic repeatedly to perfect their technique waistband with clasps on the Typically these are worn with yukata. The obi must be wisely chosen, as it’s one in the various styles of musubi. sides to help smooth out the of the most important parts to wearing kimono and keep the collar Besides the seasonal kimono, there are kimono; with it, you can express your With summer just around the corner and front folds in place categories of kimono worn for certain kawaii-ness using any of the various and its endless matsuri and oppor- occasions, for example, weddings call musubi kata. The formality level also o obi ita - stiff board worn un- tunities to wear yukata and sum- der the obi to keep it in place for tomisode – usually a black, formal depends on the fabric and design. mer kimono (and before I write an and to keep it smooth kimono with a design below the waist, article on “How to wear Yukata”), I worn by married women related to makura - the “pillow” shaped These days, although kitsuke is a com- thought it would be interesting to o the bride and groom, and the uchi- tool used to help wear the obi mon “hobby,” if you will, the course start off with a simple Kimono 101 kake – a long tailed brocade coat worn sash; also for volume and shape takes a long time to complete and costs and kitsuke, for those who may be over the kimono by the bride. There a lot of money. Many women do not obi age - decorative scarf to interested in joining the tradition. o are special kimono for tea ceremony, know how to tie an obi in a decorative cover the makura and to keep I’ve only been studying for 9 months asobi, and casual wear as well. Most way, as it’s actually kind of compli- the obi musubi in place and am halfway through the kitsuke of them are classified based on the cated and requires even more acces- course, but I will attempt to lay out o obi jime - decorative cord to pattern, a subtle one or iromuji is best sories to tie it on oneself. It is common the basics of wearing Kimono. keep the obi in place for tea ceremony. Komon or “all-over” for girls to pay to get it done, upwards print kimonos are best described of 5000 yen, unless they have a mother Kimonos are without a doubt very ex- One kimono typically cannot be worn as the “jeans” of the kimono world. or obaa-chan who will kindly tie it for pensive – let’s just say we can compare all year; there are seasonal kimonos. Honmongi are for formal parties with them. A kitsuke course can be around 3 their prices to those of k-cars. There Winter kimono, which are typically a characteristic asymmetric pattern of months long, once a week, with a test are various types and styles, making made from wool if they are one layer, having print on one shoulder, and at between each course. Usually there is a the practice of wearing kimono very or the awase lined kimonos, can be the bottom hem on the opposite side. monthly fee (around 4000 yen), as well pricey. There are many parts involved; worn from late fall until early spring, Similarly, parties or special ceremonies as a test fee (3000 yen). It costs more if even just for one kimono, you need: depending on the weather. In the require the long sleeve furisode, worn you plan on getting a license (6000 yen winter, the practice of wearing haori by unmarried women only. These or more). Graduating can take up to • hada jyuban - white cotton Japa- (short coats for over the kimono, worn are typically really expensive with two years. Inquire at your local kimono nese slip, or any regular comfort- loosely open or with a loose bow tied elaborate patterns and materials. A shop about classes: you can take them able underwear (sports bra, or in the middle at the opening) is slowly furisode requires its own long sleeve even if you just want to know how to else no bra – gotta keep the curves disappearing, giving way to shawls naga jyuban. wear the most basic kind of kimono well hidden), or a western slip and fur stoles. Many girls also opt to with the most basic obi musubi, and • naga jyuban – the garment under wear extra layers under their naga There are also various styles of obi, and only how to wear it yourself. the main kimono, without which the jyuban for optimal heat. they vary depending on what kimono kimono cannot be properly worn, as it you will wear and for what occasion. It sounds complicated, and kind of a forms the basis and shape In the spring to early summer season, Maru obi is the most formal, followed pain in the ass, especially with all the by fukuro obi, then nagoya obi. Fukuro • zoori – thonged, wedge-like slippers there are hitoe kimono; thin, unlined rules on how and where to wear them. kimono which can also be worn in obi can be worn with the furisode and It’s sadly a dying practice because of • tabi – white ankle socks with clasps September and October. The naga jyu- has essentially replaced maru obi, the price and high maintenance, but on the inner side, divided only ban also changes, often made of a very while nagoya obi is more widely worn, I believe it’s a beautiful art form. If between the big toe and second toe thin, almost transparent fabric. Naga generally for less formal occasions; it you’re going to be living in Japan, I • obi – decorative sash jyuban are really essential to wearing too has various levels of formal styles. think it would be a shame not to wear • plus all the hoopla accessories, kimono and those who have had the When tied, it is difficult to tell whether a proper kimono at least once, and just that are used to wear and tie a an obi is fukuro or maru. Both are lon- By Raena Mina stint in Japan, maybe some have opportunity to wear one know that it to have a traditional one if only as a kimono properly: ger, heavier and have more elaborate even gone a step further and dished can get quite hot with all those layers. memorable token of Japanese culture. There is also the summer kimono, decorative musubi kata (methods of love the kimono custom, and even out the money to dress up like Maiko o koshi himo - a long cloth rope tying the bow) than nagoya obi.. though they are not the most com- in Kyoto. I’m also sure you’ve all used as belts at the waist, or to ro which is basically a transparent More to come on this topic, as I haven’t I Maru obi is made of heavy brocade fortable things to wear. I think they seen the furisode kimonos worn by help with tying the obi (三本) weave-like thin kimono, also worn • even scratched the surface on kimono with the summer naga jyuban. Geta • Fukoro obi is similar to maru obi culture. Stay tuned for next month’s are a beautiful reflection of Japanese the girls during Coming-of-Age day. o date jime - wide sash worn tradition. I’m sure there are manxy For most people, the best part of the under the bust to keep the can be worn in the summer. Of course and is just as long but not as heavy issue on wearing a yukata or summer ladies out there who have tried on kimono is the obi, and the various collar in place 二本, during Matsuri season, girls prefer • Nagoya obi is shorter, usually kimono, and also for upcoming articles a kimono at least once during their elaborate ways you can tie them. yukata, because it’s often too damn made out of lighter fabrics and is on the Kimono and modern Japan. o eri shin - a long thin plastic •

10 • Hyogo Times • June 2010 11 Photography

廃墟 Haikyo Photos by Noelle Hollister and Jaclyn Threadgill

12 • Hyogo Times • June 2010 13 TRAVEL JAPANBy Lauren McRae

uring Golden week I spent the location where Asahi has been Shrine where you can often see DTOKYOfour wonderful days explor- making beer for over a century. weddings on Sundays or holidays. ing Tokyo. It was not the first Next to Meiji Shrine is Yoyogi Koen time for me to visit the bustling Ginza (park) where again it is easy to capital but each visit brings with Designer brand name stores, forget you are in the centre of one it new experiences and adven- department stores and exclu- of the biggest cities in the world. you are prepared to wait a little tures. Tokyo is a great city to visit It is a spacious park and when the sive boutiques line the streets you might even be lucky enough Places to stay in any season and there is always of Ginza. If your budget doesn’t weather is fine there are people us- to get a window seat. Shibuya I always stay in Shinjuku at the Kabuki-cho Toyoko Inn so much happening. From the an- stretch to allow shopping in this ing the park for practicing dancing station is also home to Hachiko. cient and traditional to high tech area it is worth it just for a look, or musical instruments, exercise, This is the statue of Hachi (the but there are plenty more budget and of course high end and modern, Tokyo has it all. and there are some well priced sports or just relaxing. You are dog) who waited faithfully for his accommodation. restaurants here too. always bound to find something master everyday even after his Akihabara interesting going on. Also in Hara- master had passed away. A movie juku there is an amazing Mexican http://www.toyoko-inn.com/eng/index.html (Toyoko Inn) This is the major electronic Harajuku was made about him a few years restaurant – Fonda De La Madru- ago. Shibuya has streets lined district of Tokyo. It is also known Here is the fashion centre of Tokyo gada - http://www.fonda-m.com/ with interesting shops, depart- Sakura House is another budget style accommodation with for its maid cafés. These range in – whether it is on Takeshita-dori, ment stores and restaurants. private and dormitory rooms. price and ‘services’. I visited one which is lined with accessory, There is an Outback Steakhouse just for the experience but I think fashion, and cosplay stores, or Ikebukuro restaurant here, and a delicious you need to have a high ‘kawaii’ on the bridge heading towards Sunshine City is one of the biggest http://www.sakura-hotel-ikebukuro.com/index.php Indian Buffet restaurant. tolerance! Meiji Shrine. I recommend visiting shopping malls in Tokyo with over Harajuku on a Sunday as this is the 200 stores and everything from an Getting there Asakusa day when many different people aquarium to a 240 metre observa- Shinjuku The Keio overnight bus leaves Himeji Station at 9:30pm and Senso-ji (temple) offers visitors come out and express themselves. tory. It also has many restaurants Shinjuku has everything - bars, arrives in Shinjuku at 7:30am. The prices vary from ¥6000 including an El Toritos. an insight into the traditional You will see many different people clubs, restaurants and shopping. to ¥9500 depending on the comfort level of the bus. The side of Tokyo. The craft and in cosplay or other costumes on There is a Sizzler, Dubliners (Irish overnight bus can be booked through JTB travel agencies. souvenir stalls are often crowded the bridge and you might even Shibuya Pub), Hub (English Pub), Burger but offer some good bargains. score yourself a ‘free hug’! Once Just outside Shibuya station is King, amazing burgers at Jour- Currently, part of the main over the bridge you enter another one of the busiest intersections nal Standard, and many themed The shinkansen is obviously the fastest way to travel and temple is under construction but world heading to Meiji Shrine. in the world. Hundreds of people bars. The Tokyo Metropolitan discount tickets can be bought from discount ticket shops you can still enter. The Asahi Beer The path winds through a forest cross the road at each change Government building has great and then you can reserve your seat at the JR station. This will Hall (“the Golden Poo”) is a unique and you soon forget you are in of lights. The best view can be views from the 45th floor and on a save you about ¥4000. Round trip from Himeji to Tokyo costs building. It houses the Asahi Beer the middle of Tokyo. Meiji Shrine found in Starbucks across from clear winter’s day you may even around ¥32000 and takes about 3 hours each way. Hall and restaurant and marks dates from 1920 and is a beautiful the station on the second floor. If be able to see Mt Fuji. •

14 • Hyogo Times • June 2010 15 FEATURE

40th Kobe Matsuri By Sifton Anipare ditional stages were set up all Portland Oregon’s Rose Festival) Photography by Sifton Anipare and the Kobe Carnival (celebrat- and Shellie Bee over Kobe’s downtown core for various performances ranging ing the 100th anniversary of the id anyone else in Kobe no- from hula to dragon dances, Port of Kobe) were combined to Dtice a few more people and but the biggest features of create the one singular “Kobe several more balloons floating the 40th Kobe Matsuri were Festival.” The first Kobe Matsuri in the air than usual last week- probably the last two things was also the first to introduce end? If so, then good for you one would associate with Samba, so the proliferation of and not just because it means Kobe (unless you live there): rumba and dazzling costumes on I’m not the only one hallucinat- samba and jazz. The parade, Sunday made a lot more sense. ing on the impending doom of especially, looked more like The score of jazz performers on Kansai summer. It means you Carnivale than your average the street also made sense, since must have experienced at least Japanese matsuri. There were jazz has been a big feature of the some of the magic that was the also a few things added to the city since the 1920’s. The Storm 40th Kobe Matsuri. mix for the kids, particularly Troopers, not as much sense, but the Mickey Mouse parade, and who cares? It’s MATSURI! On May 15th, each ward of the Storm Troopers. お疲れさま Kobe had its own festival; the です (otsukaresamadesu) , you If you missed it, try not to feel celebration on the 16th took guys. お疲れさまです indeed. bad. There there, dry your eyes, place in the heart of Sannomi- and pick yourself up off the ya, highlighted by the Omat- The festival dates back to 1971 tatami. There will be many suri parade up Flower Road when the Port Festival (estab- more festivals in Kobe to come! and down Kyomachi-suji. Ad- lished in 1933 and modeled after Save your energy. •

16 • Hyogo Times • June 2010 17 FEATURE about the body in very com- petition, the body builder deftly outsider, an inside-insider and Inside JET: monsense ways: it has a head, changing the baby’s nappy. They an outside-insider, but no mat- torso and limbs, and it enables don’t look like they fit, but they ter our situation, with experi- us to get around and do things. act like they do. ence, patience, and communi- the Outside-insiders However, in the discourse of cation we can all become that fashion, the body is a canvas, In fact, we have met the inside- rare and empowered individual, something upon which fabrics outsider at every stage of this the inside-outsider. can be draped, or which can journey. The inside-outsider • and Inside-outsiders be painted with make-up. In is the girl who came here 1Wilson, R. Rawdon. In Palamedes’ Shadow: Explorations in Play, Game By Emma Nicoletti biology, the body is a series of awkward and afraid, but who would struggle not to stand out could easily be friends with. and Narrative Theory. Boston: North- Illustrations by Ryan Parker made fast friends with native from the Japanese—was among But his gestures and loud voice chemical processes, a particular eastern University Press, 1990. assemblage of DNA and cells. and foreign inhabitants alike. [Editor’s note: This is the final the first to reach the platform were earning him derisive looks The same entity, then, can have It is Mikage-sensei’s mother installment in a three-part series. and jumped on the train that from the other passengers. different meanings (canvas, who now enjoys telling her You can read Parts One and Two in had just pulled in. Out of con- Goran remained congenial, friends how she made tea with the April and May 2010 issues of sideration for the slowcoaches, but didn’t match his volume or chemical processes) in differ- the Hyogo Times.] he positioned himself between excitement, and sat with the ent contexts (fashion, biology). a smiling foreigner. It is the the doors to stop the train from repose of a teacher placating Moreover, we operate in differ- Australian adult teaching the The outside-insider. Like the leaving. It works a treat in Perth, a monster parent. Our drunk ent discourses simultaneously, Japanese student how to fold inside-insider, the outside-insider where the doors have sensors acquaintance got off a few and under different discourses the fukusa, or the once frustrat- knows the rules of their own that stop them closing if an stops later. The doors closed; wield more or less power. Miley ed teenage girl deftly turning group: among their own, they are object is in the way, and this usu- the last ring of his voice was Cyrus, for example, earns $25 phrase in flirtatious emails. It cool. But like the outside-outsider, ally buys your friends enough gone. Goran nodded at another million a year, but she is not yet is the tall foreigner nodding the outside-insider unwittingly time to make the train. In Japan, passenger whose scowl was old enough to vote. to his fellow train passengers fails to grasp the rules when they however, the doors are operated quickly disappearing. that he too is glad the noise has are no longer in their group: what manually by the conductor. So Like the foreigner Barthes met subsided. Through interaction, makes them cool in their own while Goran was boisterously The inside-outsider on the Champs Elysees, we are communication and time, we group marks them as strange and beckoning us to hurry up, the “Barthes encountered a large all in some contexts outside- develop the skills necessary to uncool in their new environment. conductor was gesticulating for insiders: always a little foreign, function in new discourses. At They are the young office newbie man, evidently a foreigner, Goran to move out of the way. To always not fitting quite per- some point in our lives we will who wears her clubbing high heels wearing a dirty turtleneck and drive home his point, he closed desert boots. He had glasses fectly into any situation, a little all experience being an outside- and plunging neckline to the disempowered. Can we ever Christmas BBQ at “family man” the doors on Goran, forcing him and an unkempt beard with out of the train. We all caught the considerable gray in it. Over one truly belong in our own culture, Steve’s house. They’re obviously much less other cultures? But cool somewhere, but they don’t next train together. shoulder he carried (a pure ges- there is one more category to recognize that the rules aren’t the ture of style) an elegant leather consider, that of the inside- same everywhere. Two and half years later: Satur- purse. Barthes stopped to stare, day night, Tarumi Station. On and the man returned the stare. outsider. the platform we met some oth- Quite rapidly, the man’s costume Goran: The case of the The inside-outsider is the reverse er foreigners, and an inebriated disappeared and his flesh began outside-insider looking of the outside-insider. Their and jolly member of the group to melt. A human being is a sys- out for his mates. name or appearance makes struck up a loud and jocular tem of signs, a nexus of semes, A day or so had passed since it obvious that they didn’t conversation with Goran. The cooperative and combative, that the new JETs from Perth arrived originally belong to that group; train arrived, and we entered illude him.” (Wilson 48) 1 at Tokyo orientation, and we the quiet carriage together. nonetheless, they seem to have decided to explore Akihabara. Goran took a seat while his new The cultural theorist Michel understood and mastered its Making our way through the friend hung from an adjacent Foucault often talks about the rules. They are the foreigner giv- crowded Tokyo station, we got hand ring with a chuuhai in notion of discourse. Let me ing directions to the local High separated somewhere between hand. Charming, funny, per- explain it this way. In everyday School student, the grandmother the ticket machine and the sonable: the kind of guy Goran discourse, we talk and think performing a one-handed air platform. Goran—who at 193cm freeze in a break dancing com-

18 • Hyogo Times • June 2010 FEATURE

A Perfect Day for

difficult or poorly timed, since I was booked for spring break already and I normally managed no more on my PEPYBy Emily Lemmon older students to encourage them bike than the gentle slope to JUSCO. I Photography by Len Krygsman IV to continue on to high school; with more or less expected to learn about a means of transportation, they the details and dismiss the event, riginally, I only knew a little are better equipped to get there. though there was some chance that Obit about PEPY. I had seen the PEPY actually pays attention to how it would all line up with my schedule organization’s displays at some JET things work “on the ground.” and ability level and allow me to events (like orientation-- which is participate. probably how I got their e-mail in The other thing that caught my the first place). Then, I read more attention was the PEPY tour. There What I did not expect was to be about them while trying to educate are several different tours, but the offered the opportunity to orga- to follow PEPY’s tour example by and Erika Yoshida won the bento they liked, and beyond that the myself about Cambodia and land basic idea is you travel around nize and plan the event myself. I making it a sort of tourist trip of contest (criteria: healthy and costs of the ride were 300 for the mines. This is a topic in the middle- Cambodia in such a way as to be wanted to, really, but I didn’t know less-well-known Himeji sights. Chip eco-friendly). We followed the bike rental, 500 for entrance to school English book, of course, and ecologically low-impact (so, you anything about bikes, or routes. My knew Himeji’s roads and attractions. river northward to Mount Shosha, Engyoji, and 900 for the ropeway as such, I (the World Citizen) was spend some time on a bike, for ex- first mental image was a bunch of He’d been on the previous year’s bike where we enjoyed Temple Engyoji up to the top of Shosha; these expected to give a knowledgeable ample) while seeing more than just JETs cycling around my train-sta- trip and immediately was provid- for a while before heading back three were each optional in their summary of it to the rapt audience the tourist attractions offered by tionless town. Where are we gonna ing recollections and suggestions. down. A quick stop at my eikaiwa own ways. We had a total of 17 of my 2nd grade classroom. the area. You can even do overnight rent bikes here? I wondered. We met one afternoon and plotted student’s takiyaki shop, and we participants, although some home stays in village homes. This a route. He showed me which of the headed back into the city to con- joined us later and a few ducked There were two things I really appealed to me simply because, The previous year’s ride had been in major roads had better sidewalks, clude our trip with a visit to Tega- out early. We covered about 25 liked about PEPY. The first was while I love touristy stuff, I also like Himeji, though, which was comfort- and how there is a no-motor-vehicle- rayama Park and the “dark castle” kilometers. All in all, the day was their attention to detail. PEPY is all the feeling of getting a little ‘off ing in one respect (I know it can be access path along parts of the Yume- contained there. The park also actually rather perfect. about educating kids in Cambodia. the beaten path,’ exploring what is done there) and difficult in another saki River. offers a view of the soon-to-be- However, instead of just build- ‘real’ about a place. PEPY tours are (what do I know about Himeji?). wrapped Himeji-jo! A few strag- Long term effects include the furiko- ing schools and training teachers reasonably priced and come with a Providence had it in for me: I had The rest is, as they say, history. glers stuck around for a dinner of mi of 40,000 yen to PEPY, and my (which is admittedly important required donation. You go to learn recently made the acquaintance of April 17th was the day of the ride, milk ramen closer to the station. personal decision to invest in a bike , they also look into all the other something, travel, and do some- Chip Boles. Chip knows about bikes and the weather was perfect. The not entirely made of rust. I hope that factors that affect kids’ ability to go thing good for Cambodian children. AND teaches in Himeji. cherry blossoms were in their The group was excellent, and ranged others who enjoyed the ride were to school and learn there. I remem- Win, win, win. late phase, which meant we got from serious bikers to people who positively impacted as well. ber reading about a water filter I wanted to plan a bike ride that to ride through pale-pink bliz- hadn’t even hopped astride one since program that they implemented I sent an e-mail inquiring about would suit me. I figured, if we put zards. We visited a shrine near they were kids. Everyone was ener- And for all those who missed out on in villages which, once in prac- time and location of Hyogo’s PEPY together something I could do, any- Himeji-jo, then rode around the getic without being pushy. the ride, keep an ear out for future tice, increased kids’ attendance in ride because I was interested, I like one could do it. I also figured, in case castle to pick up the road headed PEPY bike events! The next might be in school: they were getting sick less PEPY and I wanted to know if this no one else showed up to the event, toward the river. We stopped for Each participant was required to Himeji… or maybe not. Stay tuned. and going to school more. PEPY also would go gentle off my events radar. I would at least have a fun and chal- lunch on the riverbank where donate at least 2000 yen, which • has a program to give bicycles to It would probably be too long or lenging day of biking. I also wanted Valerie Huang, Andrew Brasher, they could procure in any way

20 • Hyogo Times • June 2010 21 FEATURE replanted, but won’t grow back for Focus on another ten years. The Tigers fandom is known as the most fanatical in all of Japanese sport. The fans spend the entire game in song, spurring on the This Play, players with organized, personal- ized chants. A run is greeted with a 50,000-person-strong rendition This Moment of Rokko Oroshi, the song of the Hanshin Tigers. A win is cause for By Eric Lord continued celebration outside of Photography by Len Krygsman IV and Lydia Eberly the stadium, where the chants of present and past players are re- hey are a symbol of Kansai, or two, a good-sized crew pro- peated until the stadium security Tas much a part of the Osaka ceeded to Joy Uniforms, a shop finally clears everyone out. When mystique as takoyaki or the Glico specializing in customizing Ti- the Tigers are on the road, the Man. Their stunning run of failure gers jerseys with iron-on patches Tigers’ cheering squad, or ouendan, (one championship in 75 years) is and designs (http://joy-uni.com). has been known to take over entire a source of perverse pride to their Uniform decoration is one of train cars, singing and clapping for masochistic fans as well as one the hallmarks of Tigers fandom, the entire ride back to Kansai. of constant frustration. In spite of and many of the more hardcore that, or perhaps because of it, they fans come to the ballpark in full The game itself was a minor disaster. have a following whose size and uniform and knickerbocker pants The Tigers’ starting pitcher, Yuya fervor is unmatched by anything (think MC Hammer). Ando, gave up 4 runs over 1 1/3 in- else in baseball, on either side of nings of work, most of the damage the Pacific. Each summer, without Properly equipped with jerseys, coming off a first-inning three-run fail, they inspire us, unite us, teach cheer bats, and balloons, the JETs homer by Tony Blanco. The Dragons us and then they go out and get proceeded into one of the most fa- then jumped on Tigers relievers stomped by the Giants again. mous buildings in Japan. Koshien Kazuya Tsutsui and Jason Standridge stadium was opened on April 1, for five more, and led 8-0 after 4 in- They are the Hanshin Tigers. 1924, to house the annual high nings. An RBI groundout by Japanese school baseball championships – a baseball’s elder statesman Tomoaki Last April, about sixty members of role it maintains to this day. Each Kanemoto and a grand slam from the Hyogo JET community descend- August, the stadium is taken over shortstop Takashi Toritani gave Tigers ed on Nishinomiya to cheer on the by the high school tournament, fans some cause for celebration and Tigers against the Chunichi Dragons forcing the Tigers into an annual hope, but the Dragons bullpen settled from Nagoya. Hanshin is known month-long away swing, known things down after that, and the game throughout Japan for its fanatical among fans as the “Shi no Roudo”, ended in an 8-5 loss. fans, its historic stadium, and its the Road Trip of Death. The field shocking lack of on-field success, itself is sacred ground, in the literal In the end, though, it seemed ap- and all three calling cards were on sense – it is customary for players propriate that this first exposure full display for the local gaijin. to bow before taking their posi- to Tigers’ culture for so many tions, and defeated high school gaijin ended in disappointment. First came a quick stop at the teams typically take dirt from the Given the team’s unique record local Kentucky Fried Chicken for field as a souvenir of their trip of futility and regret, it couldn’t a photo op with the Dohtonbori there. Prior to its renovation in really have ended otherwise – Colonel, source of one of the most 2008, Koshien’s exterior was cov- when it comes to Tigers fandom, bizarre curses in sport. After a ered in ivy creepers, like Wrigley blind devotion in the face of fail- quick bite of chicken and a drink Field in Chicago – the ivy has been ure is kind of the whole point. •

22 • Hyogo Times • May 2010 23 Getting to Know Random JETs the time we went to Sushiro for a The Basics some underground hip-hop. What are you drinking? Earl loves getting called up to write snack and I…err, nevermind. Name: Travis Love Book: John D. MacDonald, Bright Gray or Jasmine tea. Or gin on on the board. It’s useful. And Sports: If I have to pick, I’d be obli- Please call me: Travis, or Trav. Orange for the Shroud. If you have ice. Depends on the setting. having an extrinsic motivator gated to say Hockey. I am Canadian School and Location in Hyogo: never heard of MacDonald, and Who would you like to meet? for those intolerable few never after all. Living in Aioi, working at Ka- like mystery/suspense/crime, I Terry Pratchett, while he’s still hurts. Stickers really do work Music: Pretty much anything, but I migori SHS / Sayo SHS suggest you do some research. alive. wonders. That and the promise have a weird thing for soundtracks. How we know you: I write the Usually, though, you can catch Why should we elect you Presi- of candy. Shop: Doguyasuji in Osaka food column! I also have a fond- me reading something pulpy. dent of the World? I can fix your Funniest Story involving a stu- TV Show: at the moment, Dexter. ness for hats. Genre fiction. Lots of fantasy and computer even if it’s running dent: (Clean story) During my Movie: Anything not involving Birthday: August 6. science fiction as well. Japanese Windows. Oh, and self-introduction, one student sparkly people. Born and raised: near Detroit, TV Show: I’m a sucker for Joss I rigged the electronic voting asked how much money I had. MI, USA. Whedon shows, particularly Fire- machines. I could also just bribe I pulled the change out of my Random Trivia Family: Father Mark, 53, Novel- fly. I also will forever have a soft you with pie. pocket, glanced down, and told Most Proud Achievement: Surviv- ist, Mother Kim, 56, housewife, spot for Pinky & the Brain. Best thing about Japan so far? him. 87 yen. ing life. So far, so good. I hope I Brother Cameron, 19, annoyance Movie: Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Has been and will always be (Dirty story) One of my stu- didn’t just jinx it. / Firefighter in training Casablanca, and anything by Mel the trains. A good mass transit dents decided his New Year’s The Basics Best life experience: I won’t know University and Degree: Hope Brooks. system is a beautiful thing. Resolution was to “cut back the Name: Alvin Q.T. Tran. until it’s over. College, B.S. (hon) Computer If it was my last day on earth I amount of masutelubeshon,” Please call me: Alvin. Motto to live by: Let it be. Science, B.A. (hon) English with would… just go for a walk. Make so that’s what he wrote on the School and Location in Hyogo: Random Trivia I remember when… I didn’t have a Creative Writing Emphasis / Most Proud Achievement: Not a sandwich. Let the dishes go a handout. I saw what he had Kinosaki JHS; Kinosaki. anything to worry about. Japanese Studies having lost my sense of humor little longer. Find a bar where written on his paper, cracked up, How we know you: Vicariously What are you drinking? What- Other jobs that you have had: yet. There’s a whole lot of hard- there’s live music and good and my JTE came over and cor- through my food; I’m the one ever’s in front of me. I’ve worked in IT in some way ship in this world, but if you people and the air is clear, and rected his spelling. This being who brought éclairs to Hanami in Who would you like to meet? since my freshman year of col- can manage to laugh at yourself sing and dance and laugh and the all-boys class, he actually Himeji. Someone to pass the time with. lege, and quit a full-time pro- when you rush through shaving tell stories. presented and got away with it. Birthday: August 7, 1985. Why should we elect you Presi- gramming gig after six weeks and miss half your face, you’ll Interesting fact about me: I Born and raised: National Capital dent of the World? You shouldn’t. on the job to come on JET. I also survive anything. used to write song parodies. Region, Canada. Best thing about Japan so far? The used to be a copy editor and a Best life experience: Studying Still do, occasionally. Some Family: Parents, older brother, inaka. Coincidentally, that’d also be waiter/bartender. English from a writer’s perspec- of them are good. Some of older sister, and an (occasionally my answer for the opposite question. Travels: Around Honshu, parts tive. Studying in detail how them are not. evil) twin. If it was my last day on earth I of America and Canada. So far. people depict other people is the University and Degree: Carleton would… spend all my nenkyuu to cook Hobbies: Cooking, eating, writ- sort of thing that changes how University, Bachelor of Commerce – Teaching: for the people I leave behind and have ing. Occasionally ballroom you see the world. That, and it My top tip for teaching: Information Systems. week-long, all-night parties on the dance. taught me how to tell stories Pit your children against Other jobs that you have had: beach leading up to the day. Staying another year? Yes. I about it, some of which are ten each other. If I tell them to Private tutor, office administra- Interesting Fact about me: I can’t don’t think one year gives the times better than you’d think. do anything conventional, tor, web programmer, database pronounce my own middle name. program enough of a chance, Motto to live by: “Hello, babies. they usually get bored and administrator, short order cook, and I don’t think it gives you a Welcome to Earth. It’s hot in the fall asleep, but if I make it assistant event planner, customer chance to settle into the work. summer and cold in the winter. into a competition? They’ll service rep... Teaching: It’s round and wet and crowded. quietly copy sentences Travels: Boston, MA; Salem, MA; My top tip for teaching: don’t At the outside, babies, you’ve into their notebooks just Los Angeles, CA; Las Vegas, NV; sweat the small stuff. Favorites got about a hundred years here. to see who is fastest. Mexico; Montreal, QC; Quebec, QC; When the class is TOO QUIET I… it’s Food: Jambalaya, with succulent There’s only one rule that I When the class is TOO Greater Toronto Area, ON; Osaka; never happened. shrimp, spicy andouille sausage, know of, babies—God damn it, QUIET I… Start talking in Himeji; Bribery for students.. YAY or NAY? and fresh tomatoes. If you’ve you’ve got to be kind.” – Kurt funny voices. Once they Hobbies: Reading, hiking, cycling, Is there anyone who gets by with- never had it, let me know. We’ll Vonnegut, Jr. God Bless You, Mr. laugh, it’s easy to regain cooking, baking, listening to music, out it? do lunch. Rosewater. control. The problem is swimming, gardening, volleyball, Funniest Story involving a student: Sports: Not competitively, but I I remember when…I climbed Mt. usually when they’re too learning languages. One of my students came up to me enjoy running and cycling. Fuji and discovered at the top loud. Staying another year? Yes to talk about three-ways. It took me Music: On any given day, my MP3 a few minutes to figure out he was player is about half Jazz, half Rock that I’m acrophobic. That was Bribery for students.. YAY or talking about a kind of bag you can & Roll. Today’s selections include great. Our editor once compared NAY? Sometimes the funni- Favorites wear three different ways. Rachael Price, Django Reinhardt, climbing down Fuji to traveling est things count as bribery. My Food : Dessert. Just ask Epi about Bob Seger, and Billy Bragg. Also Mordor. I completely agree. all-boys agricultural class really

24 • Hyogo Times • JuneFebruary 2010 2010 25 I HEART T-POINTSBy J J Cappa very week for the past six able or glue your eyes to the televi- Kamikaze Girls (下妻物語 2004) is well, then I highly encourage you Emonths I have scoured shelf sion when Departures airs again. the funniest Japanese movie I have to pick up at least a few entries. after shelf of Japanese films in ever seen. Japanese girl culture They do contain challenging Japa- Minna No search of outstanding movies with Train Man (電車男 2005) is a great was not an interest of mine before I nese, but they are also rather easy English subtitles. The selection date movie, especially if one or watched this film; previously, I had to understand because each film at TSUTAYA always delivers, but both involved are geeks. First, only experienced androgynous bal- follows the same basic plot. Tora, the most frustrating thing about imagine being so socially inept let manga and a film about playing a traveling salesman played by At- Nihongo these reviews is finding the perfect that even women giving out tis- janken. When I first watched Kami- sumi Kiyoshi, excitedly returns to 5 films you need to see movies—in Japanese only. I have sues on the street avoid you. Next, kaze Girls in college, therefore, the his family in Tokyo only to storm come across some great films that imagine that you muster the cour- word “Girls” in the title shot warn- off again shortly thereafter thanks I have had to pass up because they age to save some cute women from ing messages into my brain. How- to some petty argument. While would be incomprehensible to the a drunken idiot on the subway. ever, as I witnessed a girl dressed like working odd-jobs somewhere Japanese-impaired. This month, Finally, imagine that one of those a doll fly through the air after being far away, he meets a beautiful however, I will no longer let this women is hot, rich, and wants to hit by a car in the opening scene, my contemporary actress, falls in injustice continue; for your consid- date you. Add in a makeover and fears quickly morphed into almost love with her and is subsequently eration, here are five mini-reviews a 2-channel support group to help painful bouts of laughter that heartbroken. Tora then returns to of films you need to see. out along the way, and you have rarely ever let up. Kamikaze Girls is his family in Tokyo, and they live Train Man (and a geek fantasy about two lonely girls that become happily until the next installment. (Note: I highly recommend you come true). The film follows the unorthodox friends. One is obsessed Tora-san’s travels are a good way to look up a synopsis before watch- industry standard chick flick with Lolita clothing and the other vicariously “see” the country and ing these films and watch them formula and is therefore hopefully is a biker chick; the cultural divide the films show Japanese life from with Japanese subtitles turned easy to follow; guy meets girl, they between them is the primary source a simple yet charming perspective. on. Most of these films can be get together, guy screws up, they of humor (and punching). Kamikaze The “Tora” character was such obtained legally in English, just break up, but finally they work Girls is also about JUSCO. an important cultural icon that not here, so there are detailed things out and presumably make when Atsumi Kiyoshi, died people summaries on the internet.) some babies for Train Man 2: Third The Otoko wa Tsurai yo series (男 mourned “Tora-san” instead of the Rail Boogaloo. はつらいよ 1969-1995) was rec- actor himself. Departures (おくりびと 2008) ommended to me by a volunteer cleaned up at the Japanese Acade- Detroit Metal City (デトロイト・メ Japanese teacher. Her suggestion Thanks for watching! my Awards and won the Academy タル・シティ 2008) is awesome if was to watch each of the films in • Award for Best Foreign Language you like metal, and I love metal; order because, as a series spanning Film, deserving every honor it re- therefore, the film is super awe- four decades, it shows the evolu- ceived. I love Departures so much some. DMC is about a wimp tion of Japanese culture since the that I spent Golden Week going named Nigishi who aspires to late sixties. If that interests you as to the actual filming sights in be a pop star. He is no Hirai Ken, Yamagata Prefecture. Departures however, and instead becomes is a challenge to describe both ac- the front man of a death metal curately and briefly; perhaps that group. Nigishi attempts to keep is why I am moved to tears every his personal life and professional time I see it. The main character life separate, but his King Dia- desperately takes a job without mond/Gene Simmons persona any knowledge of the position. rears its ugly head at the worst Through this mystery job he learns (for him, best for us) moments. how to prepare people to “move The music is entertaining on on” after they have died, but more many levels and by manga- importantly, his job helps the liv- turned-film standards, DMC has ing cope with loss and make peace a pretty good script. I recom- with the deceased. I have heard mend a DMC twofer at your next that some TSUTAYA stores carry a karaoke outing: “SATSUGAI” subtitled version, but either way (MURDER) followed up by “甘い恋 you should rent whatever is avail- 人” (Sweet Baby).

26 • Hyogo Times • June 2010 27 RAMENTARY RECIPES sliced • 1 cucumber Noodlin’ • 2 eggs • 1 tsp sugar

Through HK For Dressing: By Andrew Tamashiro • 1/3 c. water the Hong Kong islands. Some, It included the requisite egg • 3 Tbsp. Rice wine vinegar like the Hong Kong style chow noodles, but also boasted huge • 2 Tbsp. Soy sauce mein, were very much reminis- portions of tender boiled beef, • 3 Tbsp. Sugar cent of the dishes I used to en- soft enough to shred with • 1 tsp. Sesame oil ( ) joy living in Chinatown in LA those bulky chopsticks. It also ごま油 after college. Heaping, steam- contained almost an entire 1. Beat eggs in a bowl. Add ing piles of thin strands of egg daikon, cut in half and also Kicchiri Kitchen sugar and mix well. Heat a noodles or the broad, flat, rice- easily torn asunder. This was a frying pan on low heat. born chow fun were topped fantastic bowl, far better than 2. Mix all of the dressing ingredi- with our choice of pork/beef/ the hot n’ sour soup, gyoza, or Hiyashi Chuka ents together in a small bowl. chicken/seafood along with oyster and rice noodle dish we 3. Heat some oil in a frying pan plenty of veggies (though, as also ordered. and pour about one quarter of were told at one joint, we only and Hiya-Yakko the egg mixture over the pan. have 3 veggies: Chinese broc- The highlights of my noodlin’ Spread the egg thinly and fry coli, cabbage, and bok choy). through HK include a Japanese By Travis Love flakes, sea salt, olive oil, or for one minute. In this way, Cheap, filling, and most of all place as well. Ajisen Ramen, soy sauce to taste. make four thin and round delicious, there were occasions , is a chain based t’s getting far too close to 3. Eat the tofu with a spoon. 味千ラーメン omelets like crepes. where I am sorry to say we left out of Kumamoto in Kyushu, summertime for comfort, and I 4. Slice the omelets into thin food on the table. This is not and boasts some rather sturdy while a glass of lemonade or Hey, I said it was simple. This strips. Cut the cucumber into Japan, where enryo, asks stuff. I got the spicy Ajisen something made with Pimm’s is the sort of thing a hungover 遠慮 thin strips. you to leave that last chunk ramen, and my companion or- can certainly take the edge off, samurai probably invented one 5. Boil lots of water in a large pot on the plate. I was sad to see dered a tender beef ramen. The lemons are getting expensive, August morning, but it’s fantastic. and add chuka noodles. Boil for it left, but at the same time styles available in Hong Kong and Pimm’s is rare. Rather than I enjoy my tofu with sea salt and 2-3 minutes. knew it impossible to force any were unlike any I have seen in eat ice cream all day, try one of olive oil, but you can use whatever 6. Drain noodles and run cold y destination this Golden more into my swollen belly. Japan, with a greater emphasis these classic Japanese summer toppings you like. Other herbs, water over them to cool them. Week was the homeland We also had to deal with the on unusual toppings like beef treats while chugging down goma salad dressing, cinnamon- M Put the cold noodles on a plate. of ramen, and basically all non-tapered ancestor to what tendon. Despite the favorable gallons of iced mugicha. sugar, whatever. Okay, maybe not 7. Top the noodles with all of noodles: China. Yet for such I consider the superior Japa- exchange rate and general the cinnamon-sugar. the slices, arranged in a pretty a short holiday, and one that nese chopstick (if you’re not inexpensive nature of ramen, This first one is dead simple. Japanese fashion. Garnish coincided so conveniently with used to the difference between this stuff was pricey. It was Hiya-Yakko is raw tofu with If that was too easy for you, try Hi- with that red pickled ginger, what would surely be enor- Chinese and Japanese chop- also good, mediocre noodles things on top. It’s best if you get yashi Chuka! This recipe uses the beni shoga ( . Pour mous crowds in Shanghai for sticks, let’s just say you need being covered for by a thick, good fresh tofu, but if you don’t wildly uncommon Chuka Soba ( 紅しょうが) the dressing over noodles just the World Expo, we opted for better control with the Chinese porky, flavorful broth and a live in the inaka, the best in the 中華そば), literally Chinese Soba, before serving. Hong Kong. Still only a decade version, despite the fact that spicy ground beef mixture that supermarket is Otoko-doufu, which is found in your supermar- into “one country, two sys- dishes absolutely SMOTHERED had me sweating and grabbing which has little man-faces on ket’s refrigerated section. I’m sure Serves 4. tems,” the sightseeing, shop- in sauce are far more prevalent for tissue. the lid and comes in packs of you could use any noodles for this • ping, and of course, food, were in China). three. Silky smooth and individ- if you wanted to, though. Feel free Questions? Comments? all highlights. Obviously, Chinese food extends ually sized. Of course, any tofu to adjust the toppings to taste as Suggestions for future dishes? Our first night had me eating well beyond noodles, but I can’t works just fine. well. Remember, this is cooking, Send them to Travis Love – I’ll spare you some of the gorier what I can only assume to be help but be drawn towards the not alchemy. dr.t.love at gmail.com details of my trip and get down a Chinese style ramen:, a fatty, stuff. Hong Kong is a fantastic 1. Put tofu in a bowl. to business. I had noodles beefy concoction contained destination for food-oriented 2. Sprinkle with any of the • 4 packages Chuka Soba (中華 no less than 6 times in my 5 within a rather large bowl. folks of all kinds. following: grated ginger, そば) days spent on Kowloon and • chopped green onion, katsuo • 100 g boiled chicken breast,

28 • Hyogo Times • June 2010 29 RESOURCES actual paintings and photo- graphs to work with—not just English Sensei Spirit: circles and squiggly lines. Cries of “Muri!” inevitably peal across Picture Dictation the room, but if I’ve addressed their language needs sufficient- By Matthew Stott found on Lanternfish (http://bog- ly, they actually seem to appre- glesworldesl.com/prepositions. ciate the upping of the ante. It Working in pairs, students htm), and on the whiteboard I helps, I find, if they understand describe a picture to their draw a series of geometric figures that even if they don’t know the partner, who in turn, with- which I have the students identify name of an object in English, out looking at the image, (“square,” “line,” “circle,” etc.). I they can at least describe the also draw a picture of an outdoor shape. After 5 minutes, have the attempts to reproduce it scene, divide into nine squares, partners switch roles. accurately according to the and have the students call out the description. positions on the picture (“centre,” Notes “middle left,” “middle right,” “bot-  When you’re distributing the A long, long time ago in a galaxy tom left”, and so on). I might also images, make sure you do it far, far away, I was in an input draw pictures in various postures in such a way as to prevent session at Tokyo Orientation (“facing us,” “facing left,” etc.). the listener glancing over doing an activity very similar to Teaching them the difference be- at another pair of students the one I’m about to describe to tween “portrait” and “landscape” and inadvertently seeing the you. The seminar leader put us is not a bad idea either. same picture he or she is sup- into pairs with the people sitting posed to be drawing. at the desks directly behind us, Next, I demonstrate what the  You also want to prevent both and gave each of us a sheet with students have to do. The most members of the same pair an array of lines and shapes. efficient way to do this—I now describing the same image to Without showing her the picture realize—would be to have the JTE each other (then again, that I’d been given, I had to describe act as my “partner,” listening and might be interesting). I tend it in careful detail to my partner; drawing as I begin to describe a to give the painting to Stu- she, following my instructions, picture she cannot see (but which dent A, and the photograph to had to try and draw the same the students may see). What I’ve Student B. image on a blank sheet of paper. actually done hitherto is briefly  Landscapes or portraits are describe a picture to the students, fine, but try to avoid images Since then I’d always wanted to have them draw along with the with too much activity. If use that activity in my classes, instructions, and then show them you like Breugel’s work, go and have in fact been able to do what the picture actually looks for something like The Peas- rd so successfully with 3 year Oral like. It’s a good listening activity, ant and the Birdnester over Communication classes, with a and it drives home the need to The Triumph of Death. couple of significant changes. phrase and parse instructions  This is important. Before carefully, but the demonstration you get the partners to First, while native speakers will with the JTE might inspire more switch roles, give them a bring to an activity such as this confidence in the students that few moments to compare a ready store of detailed ques- they will be able to perform the their drawing to the original tions and (one would hope) a task themselves. Why not do both, image. It will help convey to large vocabulary, if you want to if you have the time? the students the point of the implement this in a Japanese activity, and give it a sense high school classroom you’ll need Finally, the best part. Here’s of closure. I’ll say it again, to address their language needs. where I put the students into this is important, so your I use a worksheet adapted from pairs, and completely mess timing for the whole lesson sets of preposition flashcards I with their heads by giving them will be crucial.•

30 • Hyogo Times • June 2010