Tag Archives: Events

Nakasato Elementary Exchange (Winter) Part 2

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This is the second part of this post.  Checkout the first part too!  Don’t miss the video at the end.

Every winter fourteen fifth grade elementary students from Kume Island’s 6 elementary schools travel to Toakamachi.  In the summer, a group of Tokamachi students from 3 elementary schools return to visit Okinawa.  In 2013, I was invited along as one of Kumejima’s representatives (read cameraman).  I live-tweeted the event and you can catch a record of the trip here (I know, strange title but we left on Valentine’s Day).

IMG_5180The first and last days of the trip were mostly travel.  Though Japan’s system is convenient, it took us two flights, four trains, and a bus to travel between Kumejima and Tokamachi. If you’re starting out from Tokyo, you would have a much shorter trip, but that goes for just about anywhere inter-regional.

That first night everyone stayed at a local Japanese-style inn were guests were welcomed to their rooms with a local variation of sasa dango.  They were tea flavored mochi filled with azuki bean paste and wrapped in tea leaves.  Unlike other dango, they weren’t skewered or wrapped in bamboo leaves (sasa is a type of bamboo).

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IMG_5589We had dinner together with many dishes featuring local foods.  Many of the dishes included river fish, which the Kumejima students had rarely, if ever, eaten.  There were small dishes of everything from sushi to tempura.

The second day marked the real start of the exchange. We ate breakfast together, this time at a breakfast room rather than in the large tatami room from the previous night. Like dinner, the breakfast was a wide assortment of small dishes.

After breakfast, we walked over to a local school for the opening speeches by local officials and students of both regions.  Students formally exchanged presents.  Our students gave miso and sugar cane cookies, kokuto, and Okinawan doughnuts, while the Tokamachi students gave green tea cakes.  Later, the Kumejima students and teachers broke up into three groups to go to the three local schools.

Opening ceremonies at school

I went with two of our students to a school with just over 30 students.  Fifth year students from both schools presented their local culture and landmarks to a gathering of the entire school.  The Kumejima students worked hard to memorize speeches about themselves and their homes.  If for no other reason, it gave the students a good chance to practice public speaking and build confidence in talking to people outside their usual group dynamics.

After the presentations, and a song from the students, we were given a tour of the school, followed by lunch.  The school we were at was small enough and remote enough to have a lunchroom rather than the more common family style dining in their classrooms.  Our meal was a beef bowl with salad and a chocolate cake.

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IMG_6402After lunch, the students played organized games in the gym.  One was similar to “red light, green light” but with a lot more variations, such as “go to sleep,” “sit,” etc.  We were treated to another recorder performance and then it was time to go outside.  Each school had different activities for their visitors.  At the school we visited they ‘let’ us have a try at snow shoveling for a bit before a scavenger hunt for candy in a snow-covered field.  I routinely sank down to my knees or higher.

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When all the candy was found, we sledded down a steep hill behind the school.  At one of the larger schools, the students build snowmen and had a ‘dodgeball’ fight with snowballs. There were also relay races and plenty of other games for the tropical kids to enjoy.

School ended and the students departed with their host families.  Each student spent the rest of the evening with their counter part’s family.  The teachers and staff went back to the ryokan to plan for the next year and have a welcoming ceremony.  It was interesting to see the differences in culture between Okinawa and Niigata during the event.

IMG_6749In Okinawa, its common for people to do a “cheers” when they walk over to talk to you.  They say “kanpai” and clink glasses before drinking.  In Niigata, it is more common for the hosts to arrive with a bottle and pour more in your drink and encourage you to drink as they chat.  The local songs and dances were also quite different.  The night ended with a “bonsai” which I’ve never seen in Okinawa.

The third day we met our students and their host families at the nearby Nakasato ski resort.  We all spent the morning skiing (I snowboarded).  Our students were taught by their host parents and a group of ski instructors while the teachers were herded along by some of the local organizers.  It was windy and snowed through most of the morning, creating wonderful powder conditions.

We had lunch at the resort, it seems curry rice is common since we had the same thing while skiing on the Junior High school trip.  After lunch, the teachers and students once again split up.  Students went with their host families.  Some went shopping, others hit some of the many local onsen, while others visited the snow festival.  The teachers were treated to some amazing tickets at the Tokamachi Snow Festival.

Our last day started at the school where we met our students and had a farewell ceremony with more speeches.  The bus ride back to Eichigo-yuzawa station was a spectacular view of the wide open rice fields and towering mountains… all covered in a clean cover of new snow.  We followed the same course we had taken to get there and eventually landed safely on Kumejima later that evening.  Along the way I got my first views of Mt. Fuji and the Sky Tree in the distance.

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I felt I got a lot from the trip, so I know it will have a huge impact on the students who were lucky enough to go.  It is sure to give them great memories, more confidence, and a desire to seek out more information about the greater world.  A few days after the trip, the students presented to the rest of Kumejima’s fifth graders so that the experiences could be shared as widely as possible.

To show my gratitude, I made sure every student got a CD of all the pictures I took during the trip plus a video I cut from that taken from one of the organizers. A short version is below.  Thanks for reading!

Nakasato Elementary Exchange (Winter) Part 1

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Japan is _____________.

Japanese people eat ____________.

In Japan, everyone wears ___________.

When you hear “Japan” what do you think of?  What images come to your mind?  Before I began studying Japan, I thought of swords, anime, rice and green mountains.  Like many people, I thought of Japan through the stereotypes I picked up from television and books.  Anyone who doesn’t specialize is bound to think of another country by the most easily recognizable differences from their home culture.

Yet Japan is diverse.  Most of Japan’s long history, during which all its unique culture developed, happened before cars and easy transportation.  That fact, plus its island geography has created many opportunities for difference that NHK (Japan’s national television and radio broadcaster), trains, and the internet have yet to make fully disappear. NHK has had a huge impact on language, dress, and some social customs, yet one thing is still beyond its reach.

The weather.

Nakasato Exchange

Japan’s geography has created some vastly different climates given the relatively short distances between most places in Japan.  This great difference is at the core of an exchange program between two towns in Japan.  Every year, Kumejima-cho and Tokamachi City trade students so that they can experience the vast difference in climate and the changes in culture it imposes on local life.  As with every exchange program, its goal is to create more aware youth and stronger ties between the local people and wider world.

Tokamachi

Since Tokamachi is located in Niigata Prefecture on the western side of Japan, it gets a lot of rain, and in the winter, a lot of snowfall.  The high mountains and rough weather have led to small towns, yet the heavy snowfall also means rich farmland and other local resources.  The heavy snowfall leads to mineral rich soil when the snow melts.  The soil then lets farmers produce some superior crops.

One of the crops is carrot. I know.  A carrot is a carrot is a carrot.  Then you go to Niigata and eat something that looks like a carrot, smells like one, has the firm texture of one, but tastes far sweeter and has more flavor than any carrot you’ve ever tasted before. Seriously.

Then there’s the rice.  Rice is a staple in Japanese cuisine.  And in a country where rice can be as diverse as coffee, the region has become famous for its delicious rice.  Rice is a heavy water consuming plant, which also means its easier to farm there where water is plentiful.  Not only is rice exported considered delicious, but locals will tell you it is even better eaten locally due to the quality of the local water when boiling the rice.

IMG_6750Rice and the quality of water are also the two most important ingredients in a traditional drink so well-known that much of the world knows the Japanese word for sake.  In Niigata’s case, Nihonshu or rice wine is produced by several companies in the region and is highly regarded.

Despite those claims to fame, the snow beats out the rest by sheer popularity, if not by the locals who have to shovel it, then by the thousands of tourists who trek to the region to snowboard, ski, and sled.  Japan’s train system and many domestic airlines makes it surprisingly easy to travel, which means Tokyoites can pop over for a weekend of skiing at any number of resorts throughout the long winter season.

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The huge quantities of snow have also led to the Tokamachi Snow Festival.

IMG_5421Unfortunately, not all the snow can be turned into art.  There is so much each year that pipes run through most streets and parking lots.  These pipes shoot out warm salt water to melt snow and keep the roads clear through the night.  This was perhaps the biggest surprise to me as someone who grew up in a desert.  The ‘waste’ of water is so huge that it boggles my mind, though I’m sure they deal with it in an effective manner.

The huge quantity of water and large elevation changes even mean that hydroelectric generators can produce much of the area’s power needs in a relatively environmentall

IMG_6125All of these Tokamachi features has led to students who speak the same language as other Japanese students, still play in much the same way and wear some of the same clothes, but whose lives in the winter are far different from those far to the south.

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Checkout the second part of this article, with more pictures, video, and things Japanese.

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2013 Japanese School Trip (Live Tweeting)

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Monday is a day off in Japan in celebration of Coming-of-Age-Day which we just celebrated on our island yesterday.  I’ll be posting about that soon, but this week I have the opportunity to travel from Okinawa to Kyushu for the Junior High School Trip.  School trips are a huge part of school life and are memories that will stay with students forever.  This year I’ll be live tweeting throughout the four-day trip.  Check back here for new tweets or follow on twitter where I’ll be using the hashtag #JapaneseSchoolTrip.  Join the conversation below or just follow along!


This is actually my third time traveling with my junior high students. I’ve done a couple posts on past trips, you can find them all in my Kyushu Category.

 

Bonenkai – Year End Parties in Japan

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IMG_5825I’ve written at length about the importance of New Years in Japan.  Last year, I spent my New Years Okinawa style, and also wrote about New Years Cards.  Part of the lead up to the end of the year is an important tradition in many workplaces throughout Japan.

The bonenkai is most easily explained as a year-end party.  Most clubs, moai, and workplaces have bonenkai. They are very similar to sobetsukai which takes place in March.  The reason for these end of year parties becomes more clear if you look at the kanji behind the word.

忘- forget

年- year

会- gathering

Those three words, when put together create a pretty clear idea of the purpose of the bonenkai, and is reflected in the activities at the various parties.  Some go to forget the year, some go to remember it.

Over the past 5 years of bonenkai’s I’ve seen a lot of variations, even among the same place.  Some are simply dinner, while others are extravagant gatherings with games and more.

Basic Bonenkai

The most basic bonenkai is simply a gathering, usually with food and drink.  My moai’s bonenkai tradition is to go to a local restaurant and have nabe.  Since we usually meet at a member’s house and cook the food ourselves, it is a little bit of an extravagance and gives everyone a chance to relax without having to worry about cleaning up or preparing.

The Middle Ground

IMG_5811Every year the PTAs for our schools also have bonenkais and generally invite teachers.  These events tend to be larger and more organized than the bare minimum, but not as formal as the school bonenkais.  This year one of the PTA bonenkais I attended was at a local community center.  There was a present exchange via bingo, food, drinks, and a song/dance by the second years’ parents and teachers.

School Bonenkai

IMG_5825School (and sometimes company) Bonenkai are generally far more extravagant ordeals.  Generally, a group of teachers/workers will be responsible for planning the event.  For larger schools, they often take place at a hotel and can cost each person 5,000 yen ($60) or more.  The attendees usually wear suits or the equivalent, enjoy a sit down meal and drinks, as well as games, year-in-review news, and more.

IMG_5478The most popular is to ask everyone to submit memorable items (or secrets) that happened over the year and then reveal them throughout the night.  There are often speeches by the principal, and others as well.  The games played can be numerous, but bingo is popular with presents either prepared in advance or as a kind of gift exchange.

There are of course many different kinds of bonenkai.  I’ve attended at least 4 so far this year and still have at least one to go.  They tend to be in December, but my first this year was at the end of November.  While not strictly mandatory, if you’re invited to a bonenkai, it is expected you will go if at all possible.  They range in price, but it can really add up as well (6 bonenkai at an average 3000 yen each is 18,000 yen or $200).  Usually they include all you can eat and drink.

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If you go to a bonenkai be sure to have your transportation lined up ahead of time.  Just as in the States, Japanese police are on high alert during the holiday season to keep everyone safe.

What kinds of bonenkai have you had?

The PTA in Japan

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Yep, it’s called the PTA here too, though not everyone knows it stands for Parent Teacher Association.  Still, this is another instance of Japan taking a western idea and running with it.  In Japan PTAs are powerful organizations that have teachers running for their suits and bowing a whole lot.

 

What the PTA is in Japan

The Japanese PTA is usually composed of parents from a single school, though sometimes it may include kindergarten, elementary, and junior high schools in smaller communities.  The PTA usually elects members to act in various roles from chief, to accountant.  As with western PTA’s their role is to represent the parents to the local board of education and the school, yet they do far more as well.  In Japan, the PTA has far more clout, perhaps most easily seen by the fact the PTA chief is usually considered on a nearly equal social level as high government officials.  Principals, teacher, even Board of Education officials will usually differ to the PTA chief in social settings.

PTA Events

PTAs have their own meetings where they help guide the educational decisions of the school, but more than that they have several events throughout the year to tie their children, teachers, and the community together in a positive way.  Smaller PTAs also tend to be a part of larger ones (schools have their own, as do towns).

Interacting with Teachers

There are several ways parents interact with teachers in Japan.  Every year, PTAs usually throw a kangeikai or welcome party for the new members of the PTA and for the incoming teachers.  These are usually more informal (depending on the size of the school and PTA, the larger the school, usually the more formal things get) and include food, drinks, and occasionally performances.

Then there are the open classrooms.  Just yesterday, on a Sunday, school was open for a regular day so that parents could attend and watch their students in class.  Afterward, lunch was served by some of the mothers and then they parents and teachers teamed up against the students in their after school sports activities.

In Japan, teachers have a far greater responsibility for their students than in the west.  Not only do they teach subjects, but home room teachers are also in charge of discipline, coaching sports, and acting as counselors.  They often can’t rely on notes to parents as they are often expected to deal with issues in school, even and perhaps especially, when they involve the home.  Still, it is critical for teachers to communicate with parents about their children, so there are often days where school ends early and teachers visit students home (no parent teacher conferences at school here!—- in all seriousness this may only be in rural areas, if you know something different comment!)

Finally, there is usually a sobetsukai to say goodbye to the teachers leaving and PTA parents graduating on at the end of the school year.

More PTA Events

Throughout the year the PTA usually holds several other events to promote the education and health of their children.  One school threw yearly mothers’ day and fathers’ day events where they spent the afternoon with children, then got to spend the evening enjoying a bit of freedom at their spouses’ expense.  Another common practice is for fundraising events.  Over the next few weeks here, almost every weekend there will be a ground golf tournament by a local school’s PTA.  A fun day of hitting things with sticks will help pay for events like the chibariokai.

The chibariokai might be only a local event, but essentially its purpose is to energize and encourage third year students as they buckle down and begin preparing for their jr high entrance exams.  Usually, this party happens in the Fall or late Summer and is all about the third graders.  They eat, play, and relax, in the knowledge they may not be able to do so soon.

Parents

Japan is known for a hard work ethic.  Many parents have to work to support their children financially, and this often means long hours outside the normal 8 hr shift common in the States.  Many parents can’t help but leave their children in the hands of teachers (who also are stuck with that ethic and are often required to stay 12 hours or more at school).  Thus their involvement is less day-to-day and more of big bursts when they can.  Of course, like any system, there are positives, negatives, and plenty of exceptions.  In the end, the majority are just trying to do their best.

Teachers

Teachers work long shifts and often quail at their inability to deal with every issue under their responsibility.  Teachers arrive between 7 and 8, are responsible for 3-6 classes a day, often homeroom periods and lunch periods, after school activities, cleaning (no janitors here), event planning, and a myriad other activities that usually see them home after 7 or so.  They too, do their best and rely on the emotional and physical support of the Parents.

Association

Working together, parents and teachers in Japan attempt to balance they load, or at least act as pressure valves.  If things seem to be getting too much, there’s usually a PTA event right around the corner.  These may require more work for everyone involved, but they often let people blow off steam, interact in less formal ways, and facilitate communication and community.  Since teachers are so responsible for students here, the PTA also acts as a check on them.  If teachers don’t act according to acceptable practice, the PTA has the clout to change things.