自転車 Bicycle

Hey ya'll!

I fixed my bike!!!! umm... not that anyone knew there was anything wrong with it. I got a flat in it last Friday and had been borrowing Ouji's bike off and on since then. However I bit the bullet and took apart the back assembly in hopes of repairing/replacing the tube. The tube was found to be rather sound with the exception of a small hole revealed by submerging the tube. I patched the hole and then attempted to put it all back together only to be almost done and realize not only was the tire not holding air but I forgot to attach the chain before starting. So, because I had somewhere to go and it rained while I was there, I hauled the bike into the lobby... around 11pm or so and took it all apart again, found another hole, and patched it up again. Then I properly put everthing back together again, and am quite confident in the future it will take hardly anytime to fix it in the future if anything happens. Oh, and my problem of constantly having to fix the chain (probably in excess of 15 times since the new year) is probably completely over. I hope.

Also, now that transportations fixed I can try and deal with homework. I've had to give up all hope for completeting Statistics homework(2 reports for tommorrow besides the usual). I could probably do it(if I had 10 hours of free time between now and the class...) but the time required is beyond what is available in a weeks time. I feel really stupid for getting in over my head in this class but I will learn what I can while I am here. It will make taking Stats, stateside feel like a breeze.. I think.

Later's ya'll

Etherealism 霊妙主義

I thought I should put something into writing again.

Did you know that I miss the sound of thunder?　

雷鳴をめちゃ聞きたいです。

No seriously, when it rains here it doesn’t pour it just soaks.. forever. I have only heard thunder once since being in Japan, and a real good downpour is rare too. They tend to have a kind of half baked rain that is just a step above drizzle. Meh.　Maybe because I said this it will start raining heavily more often. .

Japanese, or people sometimes have weird thought processes. I don’t know what you should call it but it’s something like “Picky” syndrome. Basically if it’s not quality you don’t want it. I can sort of understand it if it is limited to material things but if it stretches into the relationships realm it’s too much.

I can’t really explain it but I can give an example. Let’s say it’s your birthday and one of your friends says “Happy Birthday” to you. Another friend notices it and says “It’s your Birthday? Happy Birthday!” Is there anything wrong with that???? Apparently there is to some people. The qualitiy is lacking. It says to them you didn’t really remember which can be extrapolated to mean you don’t care about them.

To be honest I think this way of thought is too much. Regrettably it can be applied to about anything relationship-wise. I tend to prefer that my friend said “Happy Birthday” than that he thought it himself. If he did or didn’t remember on his own I don’t care, I simply prefer the action to have occurred in and of itself.

Chalk up another thing I miss. Driving. On the other hand I don’t even want to consider driving in Japan, the cars and roads are all too small, but the AC would be nice.

Japans’s too non-idealistic and lacking in principles to drive the country and America is the opposite idealistic, still relatively new and steeped in principle. To oversimplify it. America seeks to create waves while Japan seeks to go with the flow. The problem is both can misread the situation, accidently creating waves that cause more damage then good or following the "flow" into obstacles, like rocks/walls etc. Maybe..

Now to change topic abruptly. Rice fields. Recently I've been able to see a bird that looks like a heron hanging out on them. They just kind of stand there and don't move but they are pretty cool.
There was one day when I wished I had my camera. When I was going to school it was raining. The coupling of the fields and the puddles around had ripples that revealed the slow steady raindrops. That gave me real calming feeling. Then later on that day the weather calmed and the surfaces of the fields that had filled up with water acted like mirrors and showed a perfect reflection of their surroundings. I was really regretting not having my camera that day...

Trend of the times 大勢

I know.. I literally just posted but I realized that I a lot has been happening.

I had to read this chapter in a book by Kenneth Pyle; Japan Rising. This book actually just came out this year and I would reccommend it for anyone interested in Japanese foreign policy. The section I had to read concerned Japanese Foreign style. Or rather what parts of Japanese culture have formed the base for it. I just want to give a short summary for the chapter's points of interest for me.

Generally speaking, a nation's foreign style forms into patterns over time based on its experience and its reactions to them. Kind of similar to how someone's personality develops over time. These patterns while not set in stone to give way easily to the winds of time.

Japan's Foreign style is based in 6 major categories according to Kenneth Pyle. All of these basically grow out of Japan's history of Feudalism and borrowing. Japan has the unique aspect of being an island country that is quite separated from its neigbors and having what is “often regarded as one of “only two fully proven cases of feudalism””(39). In a true case of feudalism you have what John herz has termed as the "security dilemma." A situation similar to the international world where all sides are locked in an unending power struggle. One side increases its power and the other groups see this and become nervous(i.e. insecure) and then seek to become stronger too. It's circular, see? All sides keep seeking more power than their neigbors for greater security but is has no end.

The fact that Japan in the past did some heavy borrowing from China was originally thought to be because of a romantic attractivenesss that the Japanese held of the Chinese Empire. However it is now believed that Japan perceived China as a threat to their independence/security. The reaction was to seek to understand the "threat" and then borrow and improve upon what made that "threat" stronger than them. In light of that way of thinking one can make better sense of Japan's reaction to the growing west following the Meiji restoration.

The main six origins of the Japanese National Style are:
1. An Attentiveness to Power: For one thing, Japan has lacked the religious/ideological base that absolute power can be a bad thing. In addition, Japan's leaders generally came from the Samurai class; a class which relied on power for existence. Growing out of this reliance Japan always is holding up its invisible ruler to predict threats. It's also the reason Japan has kept itself algned with the most ascendant powers over the last 100 years; First England, Then Germany, Now America.

2. A strong Pragmatism and the lack of Transcendent and Universal Ideals: Japan seeks to grow its own power in a pragmatic fashion. That is to say they react situation by situation in favor of their country. This comes from Japan's sense of nationalism「国家主義」 built over time and its lack of any core Ideals or principles to stand for. This is to say that Japan a country who relies on trade for survival to watch the winds of change in internationl relationships and to seize favorable oppourtunities as they blow through.

3. Use of Adaptation and Accommodation: Japan has a history where its leaders simply explain away their actions as "beyond one's control" or "couldn't be helped「しょうがなかった」." Currently this thought process comes from Japan's reliance on trade leaving Japan to adapt to the international framework of the times or suffer. The way the Japanese express this is through a reference to "the trend of the times「大勢」" as a factor beyond one's control. As a result Japan possesses a adapation system based in seeking to always "go with the flow" as opposed to "making waves."

4. Maintaining Autonomy and Seeking a Regional Hegemony: Before the International world came along, Japan was self-sufficient but as a result of it's economic growth Japan has actually become reliant on the international world. It's kind of funny how Japan sought to maintain its autonomy through the economy but in turn has actually almost lost that. On the other side of the coin however, Japan's severe growth has given it the opportunity to be an almost economic "Asian brain" so to speak giving it a kind of Regional Hegemony.

5. Its Emulation and Innovation: As Japan lacks the emphasis on inner truth allows Japan to look at foriegn cultures from an "objective" perspective. Japan combines this with its historic emphasis on an imitative form of learning 「習う」. Japan uses this combination to adapt and innovate what it deems useful by first mastering the existing technique and then, only after the imitation is complete, improving upon the past model.

6. Its Rank and Honor: The Japanese obsession with prestige and rank was passed on by the Samurai after they were converted to the Nation's bueaucrats in the Meiji Restoration. Their forms of politeness following the Restoration "were by no means simply indicators of breeding and refinement, but direct and explicit idioms of power(63)." Moreover Japan takes this perspective and applies it on an international scale, thereby making honor and prestige nearly as vital as trade to the nation's survival.

Rober Wohlstetter wrote on Pearl Harbor: “war with the United States was not chosen. The decision for war was rather forced by the desire to avoid the more terrible alternative of losing status or abandoning the national objectives.”

Also, as another note. Following the war, the Emperor's reaons for surrendering dealt with the tides of time「大勢」 acting against Japan and that it must adapt to survive. A way of saying things that can leave foreigners wondering if the Japanese are trying to paint themselves as the victim...

That's the basic summary of how Kenneth Pyle perceives the Japanese National Style

Later's ya'll

Cold place.. 寒い場所

. . . .can you.. ..imagine it? Waking up alone in that place without light? It’s horrible. You try to speak but your whispering voice simply receives no echo. “Where are the walls, the barriers?” you wonder.. ..but, that’s only the beginning. You’re not falling so there’s definitely something under you. But.. .. it’s not hard or soft, damp or dry.. it seems to be just, just there. Where are you?

出来る？　想像出来るかな？　その光のない場所で起きている？　最低だ。　話そうとするけど君の囁いている声はただ響かなかった。　“壁と結界はどこか？”とおもっている。。　。。けど、これから話が始まる。　落ちていないので確かに君の下になにかがある。　でも。。　。。硬くないし柔らかくないし、湿っぽくないし水気のないし　ただ存在しているだけだそうだ。 今どこにいる？

Actually I am not giving you the answer sorry.

実は答えをもらえないから、ごめんね。

This is a copy of an email I received from my school back in America in case anyone is wondering whether I am keeping up on the happenings in America or not.

4-20-2007

President Bush has requested that bells toll across America for the victims
of this week's tragic Virginia Tech shooting. Accordingly, UNO's
Henningson Campanile will toll its bells for one minute beginning at 11
a.m., followed by a moment of silence and memorial service at the Campanile
with UNO campus ministries.

Basically, I am proud to point out that my school is taking time to do their part.

Comparing Japan and America again. You know when we want to tally something in America we use like a 5 line shaped thing that looks like a fence? When the Japanese go to tally something they use a certain Kanji because it has 5 strokes; 正.

Sorry guys, I really have been out of it again. It was Golden week last week. That means one week and no school. Just my luck of course, I caught a cold so I spent the first couple days in bed and the rest trying to get enough studying done to survive the next week.

Short addendum... golden week was last last week... the week following Golden week ended today.. There's another festival going at at Shizuoka but I need to study so I will not be able to go at all.

As far as school is going, it is slowly becoming easier to read my Economics book and Statistics book, instead of looking up about 30+ words a page, I only have to look up about 10-15. Well, that’s until I start the next chapter.. .. chapter beginnings seem to have lots of new vocabulary.

On the plus side I finally got to see some of my Friends from the Shizuoka Summer Tour last year. Six of us got together and went bowling. That was a blast. The funniest part was the score screen was called “Mario Bowl.”

Oh yeah, and the spiders are coming out again.. slowly but surely. Joy oh joy.

Later.

雨の雫 Rain Drop

This is a simple short and sweet post. Well, maybe.

Quick thanks to the Chouinards for their Letter and especially to Becca for another great masterpiece. Thanks!!!

School is keeping me rightfully busy. I wish I could state a list of intersting things that I have done recently but I can't. It's been school, eat, study, sleep, computer, study and more study.

On the other hand, I was really starting to stress out the beginning of this week. Mostly because it's been raining a lot recently and going places in the rain is annoying. But when you don't have anywhere to go and there is a hot bath waiting for you isn't it great just to go outside and enjoy the rain? I went out barefoot Tuesday this week a little after midnight when it was only lightly raining and didn't come back in until I was thoroughly drenched. It just feels really awesome to have the rain pouring off you as you go through karate routines.

Also, in anticipation of the extended study period I have next week I went out and had some cheap kaiten (revolving) sushi with some friends today on the way home from school. Next week is, after all, Golden week. When I find out what it is a celebration of, I will let you know but for now it seems like Japan's version of Spring break; a week where everyone doesn't have school and people do a lot of traveling. Personally, I will treat it as catch up time for once again jumping in with both feet forward and getting well in over my head. Sometimes I wonder if I just like getting into difficult situations to try and turn them around.

Laters ya'll!

Tempus

Well, My updates here have not been occuring as often as they should. The first week of school has come and gone and again a lot has happened.

最近僕はこのブログをあまり最新のものにしていないですね。　新学期の最初の週間はもう去ってしまいました。

First off, my micro economics class is going to kill me. I can mostly understand the lectures and am going to be recording them with a voice recorder. That way I can listen again later. However, the class has no tests, no attendence record, and no homework. Only a 400+page book and a Final. The final is the only graded thing in the class. Tough. On the other hand that could be my saving grace because when the test comes my Japanese will be better.

最初に僕のミクロ経済の授業は僕を殺されます。　公園が大体分かります。　そして録音機器で録音するので後でもう一回聞きなおします。 しかし授業は試験がないし欠席は禁止じゃないしやっぱり宿題も無いです。　ただ４００枚＋の本と終末試験があります。　最終試験だけは成績と関係があります。大変.　逆に　試験が来るとき僕の日本語はもっとうまくなるからいいことだと思います。

Secondly, interesting things I was told. In class the first week of school I was informed of three things (well, rather the class was). The first two were in a level 5 class and the last was in a level 4 class.

The first is that Japanese think of lines as a sign something is popular. So, without thinking they will line up and buy things they never planned on buying. “It’s like, oh what’s this? A line? (joins the line) . . . (five minutes later) I wonder what this line is for, must be good. (finally gets close) Oh, it’s Ice Cream, and it’s expensive. Oh well, I made it all the way here so I may as well buy it.” Yeah, I think that kind of lining up is really hard to understand.

The second had to deal with culture shock. Same teacher as the previous thing, possibly the same class time. Basically the handout we were given was about culture shock having 5 stages. To sum it up:

1. Honeymoon phase. Everything is new and awesome

2. Who am I really? Doubt sets in questioning of one’s reality

3. Ugh, I hate this place! Confusion turns to ange

4. Aw, it’s not so bad. You begin to form your will and step forward

5. Second home. You may as well be in your native country.

Then the teacher asked us to name what level we think we are. Apparently everyone in level 5 is stage 5 except me. I was stage 1 a week ago, stage 2 Sunday, stage 3 last semester’s final’s week, stage 4 currently, and in Stage 5 when I went back down to Hiroshima over spring break. Basically, my thoughts are about this go up and down near daily. Whenever I am out of the kaikan I am in stage 1 or 3, mainly because I am either observing or being observed. Note to self, do not express opinions differing from the rest of the class in class. I had to try and explain why I don’t believe in Culture Shock. I don’t think it got across. Basically, I can activate a kind of stage 1 just by seeing a new part of Japan. So. . . I don’t think they are concrete.

The third was more of a multiple informing than a single message. We were informed in excess of 7 times about the condition that we as level three students are in. “This class is going to be really difficult for you level 3 people,” “I don’t know, you level three people are going to learn a lot but I don’t know about grades,” and “If you are in level three I can’t gurantee good grades, but good luck” were all said to us. Hmm, so am I supposed to expect to have bad grades just because of my level and not because of my work??

On a positive note the Drama we are watching in his class is very amusing. It’s called Kurosagi: “In this world, there are three types of swindlers. Those who defraud other peoples money, Shirosagi. Those who deceive others by manipulating their feelings, Akasagi. And then, using the Shirosagi and Akasagi as his only source of food is the ultimate Sagi(swindler) in history. His name is . . . . . . Kurosagi.”

Shiro = White Sagi = swindler/heron aka = red kuro = black

Basically it’s about Kurosagi and how he takes on Shirosagi and Akasagi, but it also has it’s twist because he’s doing it for revenge.

あるドラマ知っているかな？　クロサギというドラマ。　聴解の授業で見ている。　僕としてかっこいいドラマ。　“この世の中には三種類の詐欺師がいる。人を騙して金銭を巻き上げる「シロサギ」、異性をえさとして人の心をもてあそぶ「アカサギ」。そして、シロサギとアカサギだけをえさとする史上最強の詐欺師がいる。詐欺師を騙す詐欺師。その名は、「クロサギ」。”　かっこよくない？　日本人だったらもう知っていると思うけど　サギは二つの意味がある、詐欺と鷺だ。とにかく話はおもしろい。

In other news, I played soccer Sunday, there was a welcome party for the new students in the kaikan last Saturday, and last Friday we had a housewarming party for Marta (poland). Those were my weekend highlights.

Well actually to be more accurate this was last weekend and not the weekend that just began TODAY!! Where has all the time gone??

手遅れの桜の花！ Belated Cherry Blossoms!

Everybody! 皆さん！

To start off school has started and I am as usual keeping busy!
第一学校が始まりました。　僕は常に忙しいです。　

A single Cherry blossom flower on the surface of the moat.
桜　堀の水正面の上に。




Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter have all already passed.
シュロの主日、聖木曜日、聖金曜日、復活祭の祝日も　全部もう去りました。

Palm Sunday had monster sized palm branches!
シュロの主日のヤシのシュロは巨大な奴でした！

As for Easter Vigil, I was surprised. It was really similar to the way we do it in America. Outside bonfire, Candles + a dark church, lot's of readings, and moreover a good and long homily. Sorry no pictures for Easter but "Thanks!" to my family for the letter.
復活祭の夜のミサにはビックリさせた。 アメリカで見た仕方と凄く似ていました。　外の焚き火、ろうそくと電気を消した教会、いっぱいの聖書の予言、その上よくて長い説教でした。　　復活祭の写真がないのは御免なさい。　でもイースターの手紙を送ってくれた家族に「ありがとう！」を伝えたいです。

Sakura! 　A close up!
桜！ 接写です！

Since the new semester has begun, old friends have left the dorms and friends I haven't met yet have come.　So, the dorms are quite lively right now.
新学期が始まったのでいろな友達は寮から出ました。　でもまだ会っていない友達が来ました。　だから今寮は丁度にぎやかです。





News! I bought a copy of the bible in Japanese now that I am confident enough to read it.
Actually it has a lot of Furigana so even if I don't know a word I can easily look it up.
お知れせです。　やっと日本語の聖書を買いました。今の所凄くいい読む練習になってしまいます。　
実はふりがなが付けたので知らない言葉があったら調べやすいです。







This is a full blooming sakura tree by the moat of Sunpu Park.

この写真は駿府公園の堀の上に桜が満開です。

The Entrance Ceremonies for incoming Graduate students and Freshman occurred. I went with my karate group to Granship( a big conference building) and outside it invited students to join our club. The line of people filing in took about an hour. TOO LONG.

入学式が起こりました。 空手道部の人達と一緒に遊学している人達を誘いにグランシップに行きました。 建物に入っている人達の入る時間は一時間ぐらいでした。　長過ぎました。





My pictures of cherry blossoms (sakura!!) were all taken when the Shizuoka Festival was occuring. 　This picture is a good representative of the festival.
僕の桜の写真たちは全部静岡祭りが起こっているときでした。　特にこの写真はその祭りの典型だと思います。







A path made of Sakura.
歩いている道の上に綺麗な桜が咲いています。












Umm、my favorite picture. Sakura above the moat and on the water. Serene.
えっと、僕のいちばん好きな桜の写真です。　堀の上と水の上に。　平静。











To Be Continued. . . .
つづく. . .