THE SUNDAY GLEANER, NOVEMBER 24, 2019 | FEATURE D9

REFLECTIONS ON JAPAN

PHOTOS BY CHRISTOPHER SERJU Stepping out of All the participants took off their shoes and participated in the press briefing barefooted. line in the East

The Gleaner’s Christopher Serju recently participated in a journalism fellowship in Japan. Today, we present his reflections on his time in the East Asian nation. Christopher Serju Journalism Fellowship in cooperation out of St Kitts, who was out of the a small space between the entrance Gleaner Writer with the Tokyo-based Foreign Press room when I was chastised, also and the floor.” Centre Japan. committed the cardinal sin. The primary purpose of the Genkan HE FACT that it was an The reprimand was delivered with As the tour of the Tempo is for the removal of shoes before honest mistake which a sense of urgency but no anger, and Temporary Housing compound entering the main house or building. caused me to lose face T for that I was grateful. progressed, we were shown one of “If you are not comfortable in Japan did little to ease my barefooted inside the house, then discomfort. Interestingly, it was my I had heard that shoes were not the model houses and, again, had to allowed in Japanese homes but take off our shoes, despite the fact that you wear slippers or socks,” Mayuko determination to lend a helping hand continued. which led to my embarrassment. this was a community centre and, no one was resident. therefore, excluded, I thought, until “That is why one of the first I was handing out chairs to our THE EXPLANATION things I tell people when they come our presenter explained that it was in Japanese host to set up for our meeting to Japan is to make sure their socks essence “a home for all the people”. During a break, one of our at the community centre where we coordinators, Mayuko Fukasawa, don’t have holes in them,” Programme Properly chastened, I took my place would receive an update on the status explained: “In office buildings, yes, Coordinator Floyd Takeuchi said with of the temporary housing programme Programme coordinator Mayuko Fukasawa explains that among the other participants when the shoes, though worn to the office, are never allowed into we wear shoes. Like if I go to the a smile. for residents who were dislocated peace was broken for the second time “Seriously.” Japanese homes beyond the genkan, a specially designated office, yes. For my house, we take off during the 2016 earthquakes which in a few minutes. Ironically, André our shoes at the entrance and inside holding area inside the doorway. devastated Mashiki. In my attempt Huie, a Jamaica-born senior journalist, house we do not wear shoes, never. christopher.serju@ to hasten our progress, I stepped up “Take off your shoes!” Araki, the director/secretary general CEO and co-founder of SKN Newsline “We call it Genkan. It’s sorta like gleanerjm.com on to the elevated floor to hand him Immediately, I knew I had erred of the Association for Promotion of the chair when I was stopped in my and proceeded to shuck my shoes. International Cooperation (APIC). tracks by the urgency of the shout. The voice was that of Megumi APIC was sponsoring the Japan