The Cove

I found the video on dolphin drive hunting in Taiji to be quite upsetting. I was unaware of of this type of hunting in Japan, and I don't particuarly like it. The method they use of driving them into the cove and then spearing them/slitting their throats seems quite inhumane. I understand that in England and other parts of the world also slaughter animals in horrendous ways, but the fact that dolphins are so highly regarded makes it a whole new kettle of fish (so to speak!). It has been proven that dolphins are intelligent creatures and so they shouldn't be hunted in this way, but then again so are pigs so how can we be so accepting when it comes to pork? In Western culture, horses are commonly pets. But, here in Kumamoto it is a delicacy. This is a culture difference, but it seems that people in Japan are not aware of the dolphin drive hunting in Taiji and I think that proves that this type of hunting is wrong. However, I don't understand why the Government have a quota for dolphins and why dolphin meat is being sold or even given away when it contains high levels of mercury. I think there should be another method instead of taking so many dolphins into captivity. Perhaps have a better system with those dolphins that are already in captivity and breed them to be in the entertainment industry and not take the freedom of the ones that inhabit our oceans.

I think its really sad that this is happening and something should be done to stop it. I think the documentary is an effective way in making people all over the world aware of what is happening, and it was wrong for Japan to ban the film in certain cinemas. People should have the freedom to see what they like, and this shouldn't be shielded from them. The fact that so much effort goes into keeping this activity a secret proves that it is wrong.

Gender - Keeping it Equal

Last week we began to discuss to roles of males and females in society, particuarly in relation to jobs and family. From our smaller group discussions it was clear that Japan and England were quite similar when it came to equal opportunities in the workplace. Both male and females can do the same job, and there are laws and legislations in place to enable that happens. Less women are taking up the life of a housewife, and more are pursuing a successful career. But it isn't just women's rights which are considered; in the past, males in Japan could not do certain jobs like be a nurse etc and men can now get a considerable amount of time off work as paternity leave.

In England, women can just as driven as men to pursue a successful career. I don't think this attitude is gender specific, more of a personal choice. Some men may be attracted to certain jobs relating to their interests e.i. cars, but there are women who share these interests that also attain jobs in these areas successfully. However, in jobs such as building, plumbing etc,there may still be the notion of 'this is a man's job' and despite laws and legislations, in the interview process there is still room for personal opinion and many may just opt out of giving a female a job over a male.

I think work should be important for both men and women in a family. It should all be equal whether its work-life or home-life. I think its important to have a good balance of both. However, in the case of a child being born, the mother would get a longer paternity leave and so I think it is important for the father to work during this time in order to support the family. Both roles of mother and father are important for children because they can learn a lot of things from both parents. There are some things that are gender specific, like when a child hits puberty, and so one parent then may be able to give the better advice.

Herbivorous Men of Japan そうしょくけい男子

Herbivorous men are not the guys who 'eat their greens', but a generation of guys in Japan who are changing the country's perceptions of masculinity. They are the metrosexuals without the testosterone. Generally, they are less interested in sex, money and job promotion. They take a keen interest in their appearance and are usually skinny. It is said to have come from guys growing up in the troubled economy of the 1990's, and the children have become less assertive and goal orientated. Despite having little or no interest in girls, they are not considered as being homosexual.

This new trend seems opposite to what would be found in England. The guys in England are constantly fighting to be seen as masculine, and to carry an umbrella around or to wear a jumper would be seen as 'gay', and this is an image most hetrosexuals would strive to avoid. As soon as I arrived in Japan I noticed the difference in fashion with the males of Japan. Generally guys here oay more attention to their appearance, they carry 'man-bags' and use umbrellas and have more accessories. I initially thought these people were homosexual, but as each day passed living in Japan I have found that this is just Japanese style and that these guys in fact would be straight, but just take an interest in their appearance. What is perceived as fashionable in Japan just differs from what is fashionable in England.

Its interesting to see that girls in Japan are interested in more herbivorous men, and like guys who are more feminine and like fashion. Whereas girls in England would not usually go for that same type and a lot of girls like the rugby players, or fireman; guys who are masculine and take control.

冬休み

今年の冬休みはイギリスよりまじ違うだ。でも、本当に楽しかっただ。そして、忘れがたい経験をした。クリスマスでは、普通家族と遊ぶ。でも、今年友達と１２月２４日から１２月２６日までホテル二ッコ熊本に泊まった。きれいで印象的なホテルだ。
クリスマスイーヴはベスト電器の近くにイタリアンの外食して、後で教会に行って、デイスバーでお酒を飲んだ。クリスマスの朝スターバックスからコーヒーを持って来て、ヴィッキーの部屋でプレゼントを開けた。すてきなプレゼントを貰った。あの日は楽しかった。チェックアウトの時は悲しくなった。

１２月２７日、私とヴィッキーは「智子」と言う友達の家に行って智子の家族と友達と遊んで日本のかぞくのもちを作った。毎年正月、もちはこの方法で作られた。もちを作るには全部家族の手伝いが必要だ。早い朝に準備を始めた。

お正月は１２月２９日から１月２日まで東京に行った。すごくて忘れがたい旅行だ。「品川プリンスホテル」で一泊を泊まった。ホテルはまじ大きくてきれいだ。ホテルの中に映画館や店やレストランやかんしょうぎょなどがあった。東京で東京タワー、しぶや、あさくさ、あきはらば、こうぐう、ぎんざあ、はらじゅく、おだいばを訪ねた。ろっぽんぎにイギリスから友達のおばさんのアパートに三泊を泊まった。アパートはまじ広くてきれいでしぶやが見える。１２月３１日にはアパートでパーテイをした。たくさん面白い人を会って、まじ楽しかっただ。

全部東京の旅行は面白くて楽しかっただ。うれしかったですから、たくさん見物をした。毎場所は違う気持ちがあった。まった東京に行きたい！！

I love 東京　

Friday 13th

On this day my friend Clare, who is studying at Kanazawa Univeristy, came to Kumamoto for the weekend and Obama began his Asian tour in Tokyo. It was great to see Clare again and show her Kumamoto. We had a bbq and visited Mt Aso, although we couldn't see it all because Aso san was emitting poisonous gases :( then it was off to an izakaya and karaoke. This has no relation to Obama, except for the same dates.

Obama came to Japan to renew alliances and discuss topics such as economic growth, the war in Afghanistan and the US airbase situated on the island of Okinawa etc. However, Japanese peace activists criticised Obama for not taking the time to visit the atomic bombing sites of Hiroshima and Nagasaki (I found this particularly interesting because of my upcoming trip). His response was that he would do this on another occassion.

Obama's schedule was; friday 13th, arrive in Japan. Saturday, Apec summit in Singapore. Sunday, talk with Russia's President Medvedev etc. Tuesday, Summit in Beijing. Wednesday, visit to South Korea. End of tour.

Depsite the busy schedule of events, I do believe that it should have been important for the President of the United States to visit these sites before he arrived in Tokyo. It is an important part of history that should be respected and not forgotten and it surely would help with the alliance of both countries? Having said that, it is also another generation and the atomic bombs was beyond his control. So should there have really been this stress to visit these sights before his tour? I would be interested to find out how Japanese people feel about this, and whether they think it is rude that he hasn't paid his respects first. Would this change their opinion of him?

Finally....I noticed that it was Friday 13th. A very unlucky day in the English calander, but apparantly not in Japan. So do English superstitions like this only count if you're in England, and not in Japan? This seems wierd because surely geography should have nothing to do with whether something is lucky or not? And if these don't exist in Japan, then do they exist anywhere else? Would it not be considered unlucky if you walked under ladders here, or put new shoes on the table etc. I spoke to my friend and apparantly in Japan they have a superstition where it is unlucky to cut your finger nails at night. I think it was something to do with the representation of death. Other ones inlude the passing of food from chop stick to chop stick, ressembling the bones of a cremated body at a funeral, sticking chopsticks directly into a bowl of rice because this is another thing that is done at funerals. The number 4 is supersitious because of the 'shi' that is also in 'death'. I am intrigued to know what I should consider to be supersitious as an English person living in Japan. Would it be Japanese supersitions, or still English supersitions as thats what I have been brought up to believe? What would a Japanese exchange student consider supersitious in England? Their own culture, or Englands'?

ふくおか！！！

木曜日、イギリスの友達「ゲン」と言うは熊本に来た。飲み食べ放題とカラオケをした。うれしいですから、ゲンさんにまた会え！ゲンさんは熊本のきれいなところと思った。

一緒にふくおかに行った。マーチんさんのアパートに泊まった。Happy Cock でHalloween Partyに行った。ここで、まじいそがしくてあついだ！でも、ビールを飲んで、ダンスをした。そして、楽しかった！パーテイ後で、ラーメンを食べたながらバスを持った。８時まで帰った、そしてつかれた！

過ぎの夜、Fukuoka Tower に行った。まじきれい！！

This is Nagasaki

So...the plan is to go to Nagasaki with my Seminar III class on the 21st/22nd November, which I'm pretty excited about!!

Nagasaki isn't too far away from us here in Kumamoto. This once little harbour village grew into a diverse port city and became a major Imperial Japanese Navy base during the First Sino-Japanese and Russo-Japanese War. However, it is the nuclear incident which Nagasaki is well-known for.

During World War II, Nagasaki was subject to a nuclear attack, along with Hiroshima, due to it's importance regarding it's wide ranging industrial activity including the production of ships, military equipment etc. The atomic bomb, nicknamed "Fat Man", destroyed the north of the city and killed around 40,000 people at 11:00am, 9th August 1945. In total, it said that around 80,000 people were killed by the bomb by the end of 1945. Six days after this detonation, Japan announced it's surrender which ended the Pacific War, and therefore WWII.

Since then, the city has been rebuilt with new temples, and churches (due to the increase of Christianity in this area) along with memorial structures etc. However, some rubble has been left as a memorial like the One-Legged Torii Gate.

Nagasaki sets a strong example of perservearance and peace.

Sight seeing spots include:

Nagasaki Peace Park

Gunkanjima

Glover Garden

Mount Inasa
Dejima

Sofukuji Temple

China Town

Kofukuji Temple

Confucian Shrine

Dutch Slope

Oura Church
Meganebashi Bridge

I am really interested in seeing the Peace Park, Gunkanjima, the view from Mount Inasa, Oura Church and the temples and shrines (ok so pretty much all of it! Yayyy exciting!)