CLS Japan Page 1

Volume 1.2

July 3, 2013 High - Five!

In this Issue

Yukata Festival

Sightseeing & Dining Advice

Senryu Poetry

Student Impressions

Committee

Notices

Contents

Interview ............ 2

Student Reflections ......... 3

Sightseeing ......... 6

Food Guide......... 6

Senryu Poetry..... 7

Survey of Local Residents............ 8

Dear Abby .......... 8

Temple Visit ..... 10

Committee

Reports ............. 11

Serial Fiction..... 13

US Dept. of State CLS Program・Himeji Dokkyo University・Summer 2013

Mei Prang

On the weekend of June

22 – 24, CLS students

took part in Himeji’s

annual Yukata Festival.

Booths featuring

carnival food as well as

games lined the streets,

and CLS Japan students

donned traditional

Japanese dress to take

part in the festivities.

The many booths, or

yatai, proved the center

of attention, with

students enjoying

various foods from

omelets –on-sticks to

shaved ice. Most of the

yatai featured Japanese-

style dishes, but booths

serving hamburgers,

Turkish ice cream and

Indian curry could be

found in the mix.

Festival-goers also

enjoyed booth games

like goldfish-catching

and target-hitting. Some

friends and I tried out a

haunted house, but it

ended up being

disappointingly un-

scary.

There were many

CLS students who had

never worn yukatas

before. We found

saviors, in our language

partners from Himeji

Dokkyo University.

They helped us pick out

yukatas at the store, and

them came to our hotel

the day of the festival to

help us dress properly.

Thanks to our language

partners, we were able

to wear our beautiful

yukatas to the festival.

We saw many yukata

designs, with floral

patterns appearing to be

the most popular.

Women also sported a

large variety of obi, the

broad wrap around the

midsection.

Everyone who went

to the festival had an

amazing time. It was an

unforgettable piece of

our CLS experience in

Himeji and a fantastic

way to spend time with

the people here.

Going Local: Himeji Yukata Festival

CLS Japan Page 2

High Five

Dylan Yokoyama & Grace Men

We’ve all met Nakayama-san

in the International Exchange

Center, but have you taken the

chance to talk to her in depth? Two members of the health

and sports committee sat

down with Nakayama-san to

discuss her role in supporting

the CLS program, as well as

her interests beyond her work

at the International Exchange

Center. We touched on study-

ing abroad, her thoughts about

CLS students, her work at the

International Exchange Center,

and of course, sports.

Q: Have you ever studied

abroad before?

A: I haven’t studied abroad

before, but I’ve gone sight-

seeing in other countries.

Q: Which countries/places

have you visited?

A: I’ve been to Hawai’i in the

US. I’ve also been to Australia,

Shanghai and Beijing in China,

and also Seoul.

Q: Within the United States,

have you only been to

Hawaii?

A: I’ve also been to Guam,

although Guam isn’t a state,

right? I want to visit the other

parts of the United States

someday.

Q: What is the nationality of

most international students

at Dokkyo University?

A: There are a lot of Chinese

students. There are Korean,

Malaysian, and Australian

students as well.

Q: How long do international

students usually study at

Dokkyo University?

A: There are students who

study here all four years as

well as those who study for

one year or half a year.

Currently, we have about 180

international students. Of

those students, about 80 are

here for either a year or half a

year; 10 students are enrolled

through exchange programs,

and the rest are studying here

for all four years.

Q: That’s incredible. Which

majors do those interna-

tional students choose?

A: Most are majoring in

Japanese. The rest are usually

in economics. At first, they

study Japanese, but they also

take economics alongside

Japanese students.

Q: That seems pretty

different from the CLS

Program.

A: It certainly is! I was very

excited when I heard that the

CLS Program would be held at

Dokkyo University and have really

looked forward to this time; I’m sure the

CLS students were too.

Q: Have you had any other interesting

experiences?

A: Himeji recently held its Yukata

Matsuri, and everyone wore yukata and

went along with their language buddies.

I was really surprised at CLS students’

motivation to learn about and embrace

Japanese culture.

Q: Have you used the Language Buddy

System before the CLS Program?

A: When other international students

first enroll, they don’t have any Japanese

friends, so if they want a buddy, we can

provide someone for them.

Interview with Section Chief Nakayama

Continued on page 15

CLS Japan Page 3

Yukata Matusuri: Memories to Last Katherine Marcoux

Hey everyone! Since arriving in Himeji, have you been to interesting places and had unforgettable experiences? It is hard to believe that four weeks have gone by so fast. I’ve already taken several hundred photos! Looking through them, I think back on all the fun adventures and a smile crosses my lips.

One of those adventures was the Yukata Festival. Two weeks ago, a group of excited CLS students and their language partners went to buy yukatas for the upcoming festival. We gathered in the campus dining hall and then left for the Aeon Town megamall. There we visited a shop called Wanomonoya where we bought yukata, obi (special sashes) and geta (wooden sandals). There were many different patterns and they were all so pretty that it was hard to choose which to buy. However, helping one another we were able to find yukatas that both fit our personalities and looked good.

What I appreciated about the experience was not only the fact that I got to take home a yukata, but that I could interact closely with the language buddies. The buddies are very busy, yet they choose to spend their time with us;

the relationships we have formed are invaluable to me.

With Sunday came our long-awaited outing to the Yukata Festival. Some of the other girls and I gathered in the lounge to put on our Yukatas. A few CLS students had worked hard at studying how to properly dress in yukata. We all helped each other out, with a few of the buddies even coming early to assist us. When we were all set, we headed off to the festival.

I was surprised at the size of the crowds we saw on the way. There were food stands as far as the eye could see, and they all looked so good that I had a hard time deciding what to eat. In the end, I concluded that since I was in Japan, it would

be a shame not to eat delicious Japanese food. So Sunday I ate yakisoba noodles, grilled chicken, and castella sweet bread, and on Monday I had sweet potato fries, fried chicken, and a taiyaki parfait. While we ate, it was wonderful to chat and wander around, taking in all the sights and festival-goers.

During these past weeks, what I have treasured the most are my fellow CLS students, the teachers, language buddies and the local people of Himeji. We study a lot in class, but

when we go out and interact in Himeji, it becomes an entirely new kind of learning. This is what stands out most in my memories.

Even once we return to the United States, I am sure that looking back at the photos we have taken, all these memories will surface again. Let’s continue enjoying Himeji together, creating new and unforgettable experiences, and making many new friends.

Reflections: Festivals, Food and Country Fun High Five

CLS Japan Page 4

Juxtaposed in Japan Tomoko Bowser

Did you attend the Yukata

Matsuri? Did you eat delicious

food? Surrounded by the crowds

of people, what did you see? So

many yatai lining the streets

selling grilled octopus and squid,

fruit smoothies, and the like?

Something that surprised me was

the many yatai with signs and

decorations in English.

The merry, boisterous

scenery continued as far as the

eyes could see. Many women and

children wore yukata, while the

men opted for modern casual

wear. I found this juxtaposition

quite puzzling. Traditional

yukata and modern attire, the

Japanese and English

translations, showed how past

and present blend together in

Japanese society. Regardless of

the decade or century, however,

it occurred to me that throughout

all these years, the people’s

laughter and the excitement of

the children remain the same.

Mochi-making in Kasai Jeannie Michaels

Last week our teachers led us on

a trip to the Kasai countryside.

We went to the hot springs, ate

amazing food and were able to

participate in various Japanese

cultural traditions. However, the

event that left the greatest

impression on me would have to

be making mochi (sticky rice

cakes) with the people of Kasai.

Mochi-making, or

mochitsuki, usually takes place

around the New Year in Japan, at

Shinnenkai parties held around

that time. However, the people

of Kasai let us partake in the joys

of mochitsuki even in June! Kasai

residents young and old

gathered around the usu (stone

mortar) in the yard in front of

the cultural exchange center.

First we put rice in the usu, and

then prepped the rice in a

special way. Once the

preparation was complete, the

mayor of Kasai took the kine (a

wooden mallet) and began to

pound the rice into mochi. As the

mayor swung the giant wooden

hammer, we all cheered him on,

shouting, “yo-issho! yo-issho!”

Mochitsuki involves one

person pounding the rice with

the kine, while another person

rotates the mass of rice so it is

hammered evenly. After the

mayor’s finished, CLS students

were also given the opportunity

to pound mochi.

アメリカと比べると、日本の果

物や野菜は割と高いため、あま

り食、それでよかったと思いま

す。里山での週末はいい思い出

になるでしょう。

和菓子体験室 ジョージ・ゴンザレス

なかなか専門家でないと経験す

High Five

The CLS “older brothers, and

sisters” each paired up with one

of the preschool children that

came to the event, and pounded

the rice together. Two senior

citizens from Kasai took turns

rotating the rice mass for us. In

that moment, as we made mochi

together, there was a 70 to 80-

year age differential between

youngest and oldest. I felt that

being able to make mochi

together with the people of

Kasai was as an opportunity that

most Americans couldn’t easily

partake in. However, I was

fortunate enough to be able to

do so, and was deeply moved by

the experience.

Satoyama Relaxation Sanaa Ali-Virani

Our onsen (hot spring) trip was

an amazing experience. When I

visited onsen once before, it was

with a group of male friends, so I

was alone in the women’s area.

CLS Japan Page 5

High Five

This time I was happy to have

female company, and to be able to

talk with others while enjoying the

hot springs. At first the onsen was a

little embarrassing, but I soon got

used to the experience and got over

my initial qualms.

Apart from the onsen, the food

and natural surroundings of

Satoyama were unforgettable.

Compared with the United States,

Japan’s fruits and vegetables are

relatively expensive, and I can

seldom afford them. Satoyama’s

vegetable tempura and fresh

pineapple were especially delicious

and a real treat.

I enjoy places where one can

feel nature close by. While in

Satoyama, surrounded by fields

and mountains, I could completely

relax. I wanted to walk around

alone more, but there wasn’t

enough time for everything. Since

all the other activities were fun,

however, it was still an amazing

experience. The weekend at

Satoyama will make for many

unforgettable memories.

A Touch of Sweet Tradition

George Gonzales

Over two days from June 29th to

the 30th, a few lucky CLS students

got to experience the preparing of

traditional Japanese sweets, or

wagashi.

Having to get up early on a

weekend did not deter the

students, who traveled by bus

through towns and rice paddies to

the Takahata District of Nishino-

miya City. Upon arriving at a small

shop called Amaneya, the students

were greeted by Mori-sensei, who

would lead the wagashi class.

Mori-sensei first explained

many interesting things about

Japanese sweets. For example, he

taught students that the word kashi

(confectionary) originally came

from the word kako (fruit). In other

words, the origin of modern

Japanese sweets came from people

eating fruit.

CLS students made mandarin

orange daifuku (mochi rice cakes

filled sweet bean paste), a

confection that is currently very

popular in Japan. However, dai-

fuku may in in fact be considered

collaboration between their

ancient origins and modern times.

While Mori-sensei seemed to

make daifuku with ease, in reality

it was a very difficult process.

Technique was paramount, from

the spreading of white bean paste

on the cakes, to filling them with

mandarin oranges. However,

thanks to the kind instruction of

Mr. Mori, the CLS students

were able to make the daifuku piece

by piece.

When each student had made

two fruit-filled daifuku, Mr. Mori

demonstrated how to neatly pack the

sweets into special bags. After

preparing those to take home, the

students savored the remaining

daifuku. CLS participant Robin Reid

stated, “This is the first time I’ve

eaten mandarin orange daifuku.

They’re delicious!”

Mr. Mori explained Japanese

sweets in a high degree of detail.

CLS’s Shaun Kelly remarked, “The

experience of making Japanese

sweets was absolutely unforgettable.

Of everything that Mr. Mori said,

what will be most memorable for me

was this: ‘When making Japanese

sweets, putting your emotions into

the sweets is no good. Whether it’s

feelings of gladness or sadness,

continued on next page

CLS Japan Page 6

High Five

you must restrain them in order

to make good sweets.’ Since I can

be a very sentimental person,

this statement was very

impressive to me.”

When the wagashi class was

finished, Mr. Mori and his family

bade a warm farewell to the

students. The CLS students who

participated will never forget the

things they learned and

experienced at the Amaneya

wagashi shop.

Sightseeing Recommendations

Himeji Castle Gardens

Daniel Curzon

The beautiful formal gardens of

Himeji Castle are located next to

the southwest corner of castle

grounds. Entering from the north

gate of Himeji Station, go straight

until the end of the street and

then turn left. Walk a little

further and the gardens will be

visible on your right. If you prefer

to take the bus, take the Shinki

bus from Himeji Station and get

off at Kokoenmae.

The admittance fee is 300

yen for adults and 150 yen for

elementary and middle school

children. The price is quite

reasonable, given the splendor of

the gardens.

The gardens have several

interesting features, including a

tea house and restaurant. At the

tea house, for 500 yen

individuals can participate in a

traditional Japanese tea ceremony.

The restaurant, Kassuiken, serves

Japanese cuisine, with dishes

ranging from 1,300 yen to 2,500

yen. Kokoen has nine different

gardens. The gardens were

designed to look like those from the

Edo Period. Inside the gardens

there are ponds full of koi (Japanese

Carp), as well as flowers and

bamboo groves. No matter the

season, Kokoen boasts beautiful

scenery and fun times for all.

The garden’s visiting hours are

from 9am to 6pm, April through

September. Make sure to

experience this unique spot during

your stay in Himeji!

Furubokke Nature Park

Mei Prang

There are few better places to enjoy

nature in Hyogo Prefecture than at

Kasai Furubokke Nature Park.

Visitors can enjoy the incredible

beauty 24 hours a day by staying at

one of the many campsites. The

park features barbeque pits, hiking

courses and a bird-watching bridge.

Campers can cool off from the heat

in the small river. You can also see

live rock carving at the Atrium Hall,

open from 9am to 5pm most days.

Kasai Furubokke Nature Park is

an ideal destination for families or

groups of friends. Admission is free.

The park is 20 minutes’ walk from

Harimashimosato Station on the

Hojo Line. There is also a bus from

Himeji Station to the park, which

takes about one hour. Make Kasai

Furubokke Nature Park your next

trip in Hyogo Prefecture!

Taiyo Park

Simone Kurial

One of the most interesting and

enjoyable sites to visit in the Himeji

Area is Taiyo Park, located just 40

minutes from Himeji’s city center.

Taiyo Park’s main attractions

are its scale versions of famous

buildings from around the world.

The assemblage of miniature

wonders allows visitors to

appreciate many different styles of

architecture and cultural

achievement.

To get to Taiyo Park, just board

a bus from the north gate of Himeji

Station, and get off at “Uchi Koshi

Shinden.” continued on next page

CLS Japan Page 7

High Five

The bus ride is approximately 30

minutes, and the park is a 10-

minute walk from the Uchi Koshi

Shinden bus stop. Admission is

open from 9 am to 5 pm and

costs 1300 yen.

This park brings together

humanity’s collective inheritance

all in one spot - don’t miss this

unforgettable experience!

Himeji Food Guide CLS Japan Travel Committee

Juju (Okonomiyaki)

Recommended by Floral Inn’s

Tanaka-san, this small restaurant

may not look like much, but we’ll

take a good food over good decor

any day of the week. Dishes

include okonomiyaki, yakisoba,

modan-yaki (especially delicious)

and champon noodles. Alcoholic

beverages are also available.

Prices: Range from 750-1150

yen. Average for okonomiyaki is

around 1000 yen.）

Business Hours: Open daily

until 7pm, except on Tuesdays.

Directions: Coming from Piole,

walk down Miyuki-dori. At the end

of the street, turn right and go

straight. After you pass over the

first crosswalk, the restaurant will

be on your left.

Kitchen Dada (Parfait Shop)

Recommended by CLS’s own

Tomoko Bowser. Italian-themed

café sports foliage and Renaissance

paintings as part of its interior.

Great place for dates; single men

might feel out of place by

themselves. Menu features parfaits

as well as a few other dishes ,

including pasta.

Prices: Range from 600 yen for

regular parfaits to 7,900 yen for

giant size.

Directions: Heading down Miyuki-

dori from Piole, the café will be on

your right. Kitchen Dada is on the

second floor; be careful not to

confuse with Café Dada, another

nearby shop.

Award-Winning

Senryu Poetry

Environment

Green living, Everybody talks about it. What a challenge.

- Sanaa Ali-Virani

Japanese Life

Summer is here, Even the front desk is Floral.

- Patrick Woods

Food & Cuisine

Trees and flowers, They are everywhere but No vegetables. - Cynthia Wang

Himeji City

Himeji City is countryside or not, I’ve no clue. - Cynthia Wang Above the city, A white building, Not a castle. - Emily Warren

Kitchen Dada in relation to Himeji Station

CLS Japan Page 8

Straight from the Source! Recommendations for Sightseeing

from Himeji Locals

First place: Himeji Castle (47 votes)

Reason for Recommendation: As expected, Himeji

Castle was far and away the most-recommended sightseeing location. Not only is Himeji Castle a

national treasure and a world heritage site, it has

also become famous due to its recent appearance in an NHK television drama. The castle is currently

under restoration, offering a unique chance to

witness traditional Japanese construction methods.

Second place: Shoshazan (14 votes)

Reason for Recommendation: Shoshazan is most

famous for being the film site for the movie The Last Samurai with Tom Cruise and Ken Watanabe. You

can enjoy Shoshazan’s beautiful scenery by riding

the ropeway or by hiking up yourself.

Third place: Himeji Central Park (13 votes)

Reason for Recommendation: Theme park rides,

giraffes, and Siberian tigers—Himeji Central Park

has it all. Experience the thrill of rollercoasters in

the amusement park or hop on over to the zoo and take a safari trek through the jungles of Africa.

Himeji Central Park offers fun for the whole family.

Fourth Place: Koko-en Garden (9 votes)

Reason for Recommendation: The Edo Period-

inspired gardens at Koko-en are absolutely stunning

– so much so that the movie Ruronikesshin was filmed here.

Fifth Place: Ieshima (3 votes)

Reason for Recommendation: With fresh, delicious fish and kayaking, what’s not to like about this

beautiful archipelago south of Himeji?

Dear Abby

Age: Twenty-something graduate student

Concern: I am studying Japanese language and

am confronted with a lot of problems. Whenever I

speak with Japanese people, I feel that I am being

rude toward my conversation partner. I think

that Japanese names are hard to remember.

Moreover, forgetting someone’s name in Japan is

very rude. Also, I often do not know how to

pronounce Japanese names. Even if I use a

dictionary, I cannot find them. In order to avoid

being impolite, I would like to be able to speak

naturally. What expressions and methods of

speaking are best? How should I practice in order

to better remember Japanese names?

-A from the U.S.

Response: Patrick Woods

There are two problems you are dealing with.

The smaller of the two is remembering people’s

names. I think that is difficult in any language.

When meeting a person for the first time, after

your conversation partner introduces himself or

herself, my advice is that it is always better to

restate their name. If you make a habit of doing

so, I think you will remember names more easily.

In addition, if possible, how would it be if you

made a list of Japanese names and studied it?

Similar to vocabulary, if you memorize names,

remembering those names and others will likely

become easier.

There is also the issue of wanting to speak

Japanese more naturally. There is no single

solution to this problem. Since learning a foreign

language is an experience that lasts a lifetime, it is

natural to make frequent mistakes; the most

important thing is to learn from those mistakes.

If you do something impolite, think about it and

ask yourself “Why was that impolite?”

CLS Japan Page 9

High Five

Japanese people. Furthermore, since you stated

that you already have Japanese friends, you should

imitate their speech patterns and behavior. If you

do so, I think that as long as you are in Japan, your

Japanese language ability will improve.

You also said that you have concerns about

Japanese customs, but that is likely a problem for

exchange students anywhere. I think it is great that

you are thinking about working hard and wanting

to adjust quickly to Japanese manners. However, I

assume that you yourself are not Japanese.

Japanese people will likely quickly figure out you

are an exchange student. They will understand that

you were not raised according to Japanese

manners and customs, and will even expect the

occasional mistake or impolite action. In light of

this, it’s best not to worry committing a faux pas

here and there.

However, because you wrote that you want to

work hard, I’ll offer a little extra advice. Since you

are concerned about formal language and customs,

why not try asking your Japanese friends? Since the

Japanese language changes depending on the

circumstance and formality, you will probably

understand quickly if you ask your friends. In

addition, listen closely to your friends’ modes of

speaking, watch their manners, and seek to imitate

them. By doing so, you’ll adjust more swiftly to

Japanese culture. Lastly, it’s very important to

build good relationships with Japanese people.

If your friends help teach you Japanese, I think

you’ll be able to build excellent relationships.

As you endeavor to adjust to Japanese customs,

you’ll soon become able to understand Japanese

language manners. Don’t worry about small

mistakes along the way. We have all been there!

Dear Abby

I also believe it is better to practice in order to

become a skilled listener.

When speaking with Japanese people, listen for

which expressions they use in certain situations.

In the case of culturally-specific words and

phrases, I think such listening practice is

necessary. If you continue to work hard, you will

definitely become skilled at Japanese!

Age: Twenty-something college student

Concern: Because this is my first time in Japan, I'm

still not used to the norms of Japanese society. At

the beginning, there were a lot of things I simply

didn't notice. Small things like whether or not to

leave tips, whether store purchases can be

returned, and how dressing rooms work were very

confusing. I also forget to use keigo speech when

interacting with higher-ranked individuals. Other

times, formal speech slips mistakenly into

conversations with friends, or I start to use un-

ladylike speech patterns. Overall, I am worried

about leaving a bad impression on those around

me. Words I learned from friends or the TV

sometimes carry much stronger connotations than

I intend, so when I use them my language buddies

are shocked. Since I don't want to unpleasantly

surprise or anger people, I need to learn more

about the rules of Japanese society. What is the

best way to get used to Japanese practices as soon

as possible?

-C from California

Response: Alec Weltzien

Dear twenty-something college student,

First, I think it’s best not to worry too much. Of

course, human relations are important in Japan.

However, even if you make the occasional mistake,

you will still be able to build relationships with

CLS Japan Page 10

Temple Visit： Kameyamahontoku Seth Goonetilleke, Ashaiah Rainey, Vivian Shaw and Gun Myung

For one of our field performances, we were

required to ask for directions to Himeji

Dokkyo University. However, since we had

already been going there nearly every day for

two weeks, our teacher Mr. Luft gave us a new

assignment: Kamiyamahontokuji Temple.

Ashaiah Rainey (22) investigated how to

get to the temple by asking a station

attendant, who told her that taking the train is

the best way. However, since she Rainey

didn’t clearly understand how to take the bus

or train, she ended up walking for an hour to

the temple. The heavy rain made it a difficult

trip.

Trains were the transportation mode of

choice for Vivian (29) and Gun (21), who rode

the train from the Himeji Sanyo Station to

Kameyama two stops away. After getting off

the at Kameyama, they passed over a railway

crossing and turned right to reach the temple.

Neither of the two students got lost,

confirming the station attendant’s statement

that traveling by train is the best option.

Two other students, Seth and Robin,

ended up taking the bus, which also wasn’t

very easy. After getting off at Nishikameyama,

they passed over the railway crossing behind

a 7-11 convenience store and arrived at a

station. Turning right at the station, they went

straight for a while and arrived at the temple.

The route was a bit confusing, with Seth

getting lost once along the way.

As for the temple itself, Hontokuji is a very

old and beautiful temple. Stone lions guard

the temple as they have for hundreds of years.

The grounds have many buildings connected

by small paths. The buildings give the

impression of refinement and tradition,

providing us with a strong sense of peace.

Despite some difficulties in getting there,

we had a very fun trip to Hontokuji Temple.

Its beauty and tradition make the temple one

of our top recommendations for your visit

to Himeji.

Hontoku Temple features stunning architecture.

CLS Japan Page 11

High Five

Committee Reports

Heatstroke Advisory Aki Gormezano

The hot Japanese summer has arrived, and with it a range of health-related issues. The health and

sports committee spent the past two weeks assembling important information about heatstroke, from what it is, to what you can do about it. The information below should be read carefully by all who wish to have a fun and safe

summer in Himeji.

Q: Who is affected by heatstroke?

A: For the most part, people over the age of 50.

However, it can also affect athletes who spend

prolonged periods outdoors in high heat.

Q: What are the potential consequences of

heatstroke?

A: Brain damage; death

Q: What are the symptoms of heat stroke?

A: Feelings of faintness and elevated body temperature

(105 degrees Fahrenheit)

Q: How can I prevent heatstroke?

A: Check the color of your urine. The darker the color of

your urine, the more water you need to drink. Also,

if it is hot and humid outside, it is better not to go

out. If possible, stay in a place that is air-conditioned.

Q: What should I do if I or somebody else suffers

heatstroke?

A: Immediately call 119 (Japanese equivalent of 911).

The operator will ask you if you want the fire depart-

ment or ambulance. State that you need an ambu-

lance. Get to the nearest hospital immediately.

Dokkyo University Gym Seth Goonetilleke

Have you visited Dokkyo University’s Gym and

Training Room? While the gym is a fine one, the

training room is missing some amenities, such as

1.25kg and 5.0kg plates, clips to put at the end of

barbells and a place to do pull ups. That said, there

are plenty of larger plates and barbells, as well as

several exercise machines. This gym is a great

resource, and we CLS students are free to use all that

it has to offer. (However, please note that outdoor

shoes are not to be worn past the entryway).

Community/Events Committee Chair Jeannie Michaels here.

Continue to watch for our reports on special

events and exhibits in the Himeji area. If you

have any recommendations for events or

exhibitions, please drop us a note.

Health & Sports

CLS Japan Page 12

High Five

Housekeeping

Pigeon Notice You may think doves are cute and pretty. However,

pigeons live outside, not in people buildings. In the

morning and afternoon, pigeons gather around the

outside of the building, especially the windows.

At those times, please be on the lookout for pigeon

infiltrators. They are perfectly happy to enter your

room. They may look pretty, but these outdoor

creatures can also carry pests and diseases, and

thus physical contact with them should be avoided.

Also, do not feed the pigeons no matter how

longingly they stare at you.

Let’s enjoy Himeji’s wildlife in a safe and

responsible manner.

Q&A: Do you have used towels? Question: Every time the hotel staff cleans my

room, they provide clean towels but do not remove

the used ones. What should I do about the used

towels piling up in my room?

Response from Floral Inn Staff: Please place dirty

towels outside your door in the morning (as you

would the rubbish bin), and the hotel staff will

remove them.

CLS Japan Page 13

… “All right, let’s get to the

castle!” And thus the great

detective John was born.

Despite the brave tenor to

his voice, John harbored deep

fears about the road ahead. The

terrible egret that had beset

them was no ordinary bird.

John previously observed

regular Japanese egrets around

the small river by their hotel.

The egrets were always pure

white and rarely stood more

than one meter tall. The silver

egret that attacked John and

Molly was at least three times

that size. Its beak alone was one

meter in length, and the huge

span of its wings reached six

meters at its widest point. The

wing feathers were ragged, and

the giant egret had glared at the

two of them with yellow eyes

the size of dorayaki pancakes.

Such a creature was

fearsome enough in its own

right, but John had also possessed

a phobia of birds since childhood.

Still, he remained determined to

return Molly’s passport.

After finishing their

conversation with the robot

vending machine, John and Molly

headed quickly toward Himeji

Castle. As they walked out of the

park, Molly muttered complaints

under her breath, while John fell

deep into thought. “Mr. Tanaka

sure wasn’t joking… ‘Central

park… that’s a very strange place

you know…’ No kidding, strange

and scary!” John wondered what

would become of his phobia, a

lump growing in his throat at the

thought of the giant egret. “Well, it

can’t be helped. Molly is scarier

than that egret anyway.” On that

thought, John steeled himself for

the challenges ahead – both

female and avian.

Molly, refusing to be any-

where near John, walked by her-

self some ways behind him. “I

hate that stupid bird,” she

mumbled, while examining

what was left of her favorite

Louis Vuitton handbag. When

the silver egret attacked, its

beak had pierced clear through

the bottom of the back, leaving

behind a gaping hole. “My pass-

port is gone, my bag is ruined…

and it’s all Johns fault,” Molly

thought to herself. She leered at

John’s silhouette ahead, which

was growing more and more

indistinct in the fading light.

As the sky darkened above,

the two students continued to

walk in silence toward the

castle. It was nearly dark by the

time they arrived at the outer

gate. The wind had grown

stronger amidst unseasonably

cool weather. “How can we get

in here?” John wondered. “The

castle is only open until six.”

His eyes lit upon the castle

High Five

Serial Fiction: Great Detective John’s Adventure Chapter Two: Fear and Crisis

In last week’s episode, John and Molly find themselves under attack during a visit to Himeji Central Park. Molly’s passport is stolen by a giant silver egret, for which she blames John; the two learn that the egret is in fact the lord of Himeji Castle. John swears to return the exasperated Molly’s passport.

CLS Japan Page 14

gate, which appeared to be

unlocked. They moved closer

to inspect the gate, and found

that it was indeed unlocked

and slightly ajar in its fittings.

“We can still get in!”

Molly shouted.

“All right, let’s get your

passport back!” John ex-

claimed, and started walking

through the gate. Molly

followed closely behind him.

Upon passing through the

gate, however, she suddenly

fell to her knees, her arms

limp at her sides. The gate

slammed shut by itself

mysteriously.

“Molly!” John cried, as she

moved to clutch her head in

both hands. She was trembling

slightly, and spoke with

evident distress.

“Memories... memories are

coming back to me,” she

said in a strained voice.

“What is it, Molly?”

“Me...here... my name was

Sen... I was the—”

Before she could finish, three

large golden egrets descended

rapidly from some unknown

point above them. With in-

credible speed, they plucked

Molly from the ground and flew

off into the distance, their prey

struggling violently, but to no

avail.

“Molly!” John screamed after

her. He strained to make out her

flailing body as the egrets

disappeared behind the castle.

“Now what am I supposed to

do?”

The battery on his phone had

gone dead, and there was no

time to find the police. John

slumped to the ground in

despair. He had no idea where to

start looking for Molly.

“What did she say? Her

name was Sen… Wait a minute –

Tadamasa Sen! The princess of

Himeji Castle! That’s why the

lord of the castle took her pass-

port. Molly is the reincarnation

of the ancient princess!”

John sat awestruck for a

moment, his mind swirling as

reality as he knew it shattered.

He felt an itch on his leg. His and

swung reflexively at the slightly

swollen mosquito on his ankle,

leaving behind a spattering of

blood. The kill snapped his mind

back into focus. He had to find

Molly.

High Five

Miraculously, three semesters of

Japanese history came flooding

back to him in one fell swoop.

“In 1617, Princess Sen’s father-

in-law Tadamasa Honda had

built a special tower for the

Princess. The golden egrets must

have taken her there!”

Upon making his discovery,

John leapt to his feet, and turned

to face the castle.

“Today, my bird phobia dies.

Devil egrets, here I come!”

Don’t miss the exciting third

installment of John and Molly’s

adventure, in the next issue of

High-Five!

CLS Japan Page 15

High Five

Nakayama Interview continued from page 2 Q: We’d like to switch topics now. Did you play any sports in either high school or college? A: I didn’t play many sports, but I used to play table tennis in middle school. Q: Do you enjoy watching any sports? A: I like watching ice skating during the Olympics, and also soccer. Q: Returning to the International Exchange Center, can you explain briefly your role as the section chief of the International Exchange Center? A: We provide a lot of support for international students. The daily life of international students is our concern; questions about studies and homework are for professors. We handle questions about correspondence, apartment issues, and other problems that might arise when living in Japan as a foreigner. Q: This concludes our interview; do you have any other advice for the CLS Japan students? A: There is only one month left in the program, right? I would say, take it easy, enjoy what Japan has to offer, and have fun! If you have any other questions or would like to talk, please come by the International Exchange Center again!

U.S. Department of State Critical Language Scholarship Program Japan Institute Newsletter, Volume 2

Editorial Team：Health & Sports Committee Jacob Vawter Committee Chair & Editor-in-Chief Alec Weltzien Vice-Chair Katherine Marcoux Secretary

Daniel Curzon Newsletter Chair Aki Gormezano External Relations Chair Grace Men Internal Relations Chair Seth Goonetilleke Health & Safety Chair Dylan Yokoyama Historian